Hope Without the "S"

Five years ago in July, I posted this poem that I wrote for my brother Jim and his wife in 2003 when they were waiting to hear some good news. This past Sunday, Jim and I were in a unique situation on a river, which I will write about later, but I wanted to post this as a thank you to him for helping me reach a goal.

The gist of the lines is that hopes with the "s" are more or less wishes, dreams, goals, and aspirations (as expressed in Sinatra's children's song, "High Hopes"). I like that song; it makes me smile; but it speaks of a different sort of hope than is expressed in praise songs like this, because hope without the "s" transcends what we aspire to on earth and it inspires us to focus on things beyond. One kind of hope brings happiness...the other joy.
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Hope
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Hopes have a secret parlor
just big enough for two
with a loveseat near a reading lamp
and a window with a view.
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Hope_ is a high cathedral
where we sometimes sit alone
in the silence of the stained glass
and the certainty of stone.

Hopes and dreams that happen
are the stuff of happiness
but more enduring is the Joy
of Hope… without the “s.”
© Copyright 2003, Patterns of Ink

“…and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character; and character, hope.
And hope does not disappoint us…” Romans 5:1-5

To Jim and Heather, 2003

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