Had to look it up, seems like a word that has been forced down into the darkness,
“To hold hope in the absence of any justification of hope” Romans 4, verse eighteen.
How to write about something so necessary for life, as humanity reveals a brutal starkness,
the Seventh Seal, Knight, made a mistake, his ever-patient opponent took an early Queen.
A child plays, a mother watches and loves, hopes for a life as best as she can wish for,
bus stop conversation staunin wae a stranger, a wee joke about the weather, exchange a smile.
Game continues, weary soldier knows something about death, waves crash on the lonely shore,
that there is always time, always a chance, sun will rise and cast another shadow on the sundial.
Same sun rises on the rubble of another life, frightened families emerge into the dust and light,
well-intentioned strangers argue, shout, plead, hope for something most take for granted.
Conflicts manufactured, borders, power, or just hate, but life has other reasons to ask you to fight,
know in your heart, hope both given and received, kindness and love, means lives transplanted.
Lottery ticket hopes and dreams, but ken that sum o the pennies gae tae a worthwhile cause,
supermarket checkout, short on change, stranger says “nae bother, dinnae worry”, been there.
The solider knows the ending, plays for hours to embrace his wife, set down sword, and pause
hope for time, time enough to have laughter, dreams, plans, to grow, to live, a universal life prayer.
An irrational thing, to hope, but the alternative is to accept that all moves towards an abyss,
soldier knows game is all but lost, Death admires the willingness to play on, maybe a chance.
University campus, bright young minds, one idea, to change the world, trust and hope for this,
inspirational teacher, challenge assumptions, “SKOLSTREJK FÖR KLIMATET” take a hopeful stance.