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Poetry Sunday: Hope is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson

I know I have featured this Emily Dickinson poem here before but it just seems especially appropriate at this moment. A new year filled with endless possibilities - surely a cause for hope.

Hope is the thing with feathers 

by Emily Dickinson

‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.

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Comments

  1. David M. Gascoigne,January 8, 2023 at 5:12 AM

    The opening line is known around the world, yet I bet many don't know the name of the author. That's success! It is a wonderful piece of verse.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJanuary 8, 2023 at 10:05 AM

      I particularly like the second stanza - "sore must be the storm that could abash the little bird that kept so many warm." Hope does indeed keep us warm and is the last thing to die.

      Delete
  2. AlanaJanuary 8, 2023 at 8:35 AM

    Yes, I remember this poem and I remember loving the first verse so with its bird imagery. Thank you for sharing it again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJanuary 8, 2023 at 9:35 PM

      It's that first verse that really draws you in. Ah, to have Dickinson's way with words!

      Delete
  3. Lark January 9, 2023 at 9:01 AM

    It's a poem worth reading (and sharing!) more than once. Great choice for this week. :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. Deb Nance at ReaderbuzzJanuary 11, 2023 at 4:26 PM

    I like it when a poem is featured more than once. And this is definitely a poem that is worthy of being re-shared.

    ReplyDelete

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