A Picture of Hope

By Cianail NicDonnchadh

Hope is a puppy, eager to please,

So innocent and yet – so completely naïve.

He means no harm, even when fully distracted,

By the passing of leaves and the toys in his

basket.

He leaves little parcels which I try not to tread

on.

He chews all my fingers and demands my

attention.

But hope is also the dark winter sky:

A blackness of colour

To my blind eye.

A glorious vista concealed in space,

Just for a camera,

There with no trace.

A radiant procession

Of pink, red and green

A holy cacophony nearly unseen.

And yet, I have held hope,

That cut and caused pain.

A shard of ice,

Melting like rain.

In the depths of despair

Promises of dust

Bittersweet offerings

An empty husk.

So, give me the puppy,

Learning new tricks.

A pink tongue a-begging

To be loved & seek twigs.

Give me the dark sky,

And all the wonder:

Portentous and awesome

In all its splendour.

Let the false hope pass by us,

Scam us no more.

Let it drift like a seedling,

And not fall on the floor.

Carry it elsewhere,

Far from this place.

Far from all loved ones.

Far from our race.