The Power of Hope Today

Today’s hope is a flickering candle that dwells in a snow-dusted window,
circulating the prayers of Christmas mornings.
Today’s hope is the crisp daffodil in colorless photos,
containing the soul of a small
child,
who only wishes and knows of
peace and love.
Today’s hope is the sparkling eyes that
truly believe in achieving
anything to reach unity.
Today’s hope is the palm to palm connection
bracing each other for the climb neither expected,
but couldn’t abandon.
Today’s hope is peering
beyond
the lingering barrier,
but still recognizing the diversity in ourselves.
Today’s hope has been dimmed and tossed recklessly,
but still generously stays with us,
for we cannot help but come back
like wide eyed children to candy.
We are said to be weak to rely on such strength,
but we are only believers.
That spark
That gives science a baffled case
And oceans an infinite plane,
is the eagle that dips
and soars
and fights,
which stands for
the hope of
today. 

Copyright © Gabrielle Marshall. Used with permission of the author. Published in Poem-a-Day on February 6, 2021, by the Academy of American Poets.

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“Reminiscent of Emily Dickinson’s famous poem, ‘Hope is the thing with feathers’, Gabrielle Marshall reaffirms the enduring and unwavering power of our nation’s hopes, which never abandons us, even during these trying times.”
—Richard Blanco