hope
A15/28- Hope
hope
hope, once a word twisted and mangled
worn as a badge of allegiance
to people who hoped against it
i had so much of it entering college
then sapped away, slowly, silently
once out and proud, now quiet
i can’t make a fist
my fingers won’t curl in far enough
for a moment maybe they could
enough to hold if not to punch
personal hope, if not political
hope in friends, social, interwoven
something to have if not to hold
i lost that hope for a moment
not sure if i noticed when it left
never really came back in the same form
different forms, of course, as always
relational hope, hope in love
a new strand to cling to
each iteration a new piece
something dear, something needed
but lost pieces are still lost
tonight i step back and stare at the tapestry
the key of an unsolved puzzle
i weep for the stitches i’ve begotten
then pick up the needle and try again