today may be bereft, hollow, cold and tired

but this I know as sure as the sun 

rises to meet the new day,

that hope will return,

and with it bring

–joy

~~~~

it might be minute enough 

that you cannot locate it 

in the place that beats in your chest

but while it sleeps, indivisible even,

hope is wired to the human soul in a way that 

circumstance cannot fully sever, 

and if you wait for just a bit longer, patient,

a quiet resistance against despair

will awaken once again

~~~~

though hardship tries to snuff it out,

it may bend and bruise and even crack

but it is never, ever beyond repair.

so, rest assured, dear soul, 

that your hope will rise

and the light will find its way in

it could happen at any moment

and today might be that day

~~~~

©Heather Pound 2022