POETRY | SELF-WORTH

Keeping Hope Alive

Free Verse Poetry — On Being Worthy

Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings the tune without the words And never stops — at all — Emily Dickinson, from “Hope is the Thing with Feathers”

Once, you were elusive or perhaps I just didn’t believe you seemed so heavy to carry such a burdening thing so I’d drop you in random places and crawl back to my cave

I felt so unworthy of beholding one such as you surely you were meant for others not someone as dark as me perhaps a lighter feathered friend could cherish you

And yet, no matter where I left you you always found your way back lifted my darkened soul and took me to new heights as though you found value in me when I had none for myself

Eventually, I learned to love you believed you to be true all it took was a soul awakening and allow some light to drift in and ‘though my soul sometimes dims you never give up on me

So now, I won’t give up on you no, not for a minute or a day like the teddy bear I once cuddled ’til all the stuffing fell out I carry you around with me you are never far from sight

I feel your heart beating as you flutter within my soul I reach out for you often sometimes just to feel your joy we are now one another’s life support no matter where we go

©2020 Lori Carlson. All Rights Reserved.

I want to thank Christina M. Ward for the inspirational quote for this piece.

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Lori Carlson writes poetry, fiction, articles and personal essays. Most of her topics are centered around Relationships, Spirituality, Life Lessons, Mental Health, and the LGBTQ+ community. She currently writes for Illumination,💜The POM💜 , The Friday Fix, House of Haiku, Know Thyself, Heal Thyself, The Purple Pen, Tempest in Under 1000, The Weekly Knob, The Rebel Poets Society, Heart Revolution, Share the Love, Spiritual Tree and Written Tales.