Hope

Photo by name_ gravity on Unsplash

Give me the muddied boots

The tongue-tied stars

the trembling lips and skin-split wounds

Give me false starts

stuttered steps

and dreams beyond wishing

Do not hide my failures

I have hurt us — let me feel it

and forgive

With this I will do the hard work of hope

and though my feet be stuck in the

ease of wishing —

every pain a plea to stay, to accept, to find comfort in fading

I will fashion wings that can

withstand the heat of the sun

And no one will fear my flight

least of all me

I will know with what I am made