Hope

for Lille Diane (and all those who need it)

Despair is ugly.
it smells bad
and it's shoes don't fit.

it clutches at you with ragged
chewed-nail hands
to weigh you down
down
down
...............down

Despair is also a liar.
(pants on fire)
it says "I'm just tired today"
or "I'm just a little sad,
I'll be fine tomorrow..."
But it won't go away.

it wants a drink
and dinner
and a bubble bath
and your best teddy bear
and before you know it
a sleep-over turns into a week
is a month
is a year
needs a restraining order.

and then Hope comes to your door.
it is not loud
it is not flashy
it sneaks in on silent little calico cat feet
and leaves
one

little

light

in the corner of a
big

dark

room

but Hope is strong
it is powerful
and Hope tells Despair to
get thee behind me

Hope sways
and Hope swings
Hope flutters by on
butterfly wings

Hope sings
and Hope shimmers
let it in when it knocks.
Hope rocks.