If hope should have small penguin wings,
We’d doubt how well it flies.
We want perspective on what’s true
To filter out the lies.
Alternatively, we may feel
It’s wings are fit to soar.
No matter what we think we know
We’ll trust that it knows more.
That’s why we let the present be.
Hope may fly through gray,
But when we know we’re good and lost
We hope and find some way.
Text: Linked to dVerse Meeting the Bar. Jill Lyman is hosting asking for a response poem. This poem is a response to Emily Dickinson’s “Hope is the thing with feathers”.
Photo: “This bird knows I’m watching it”, above, and “I don’t blame this bird for flying off”, below.
Poetry, Short Prose and Walking 
Nicely done, Frank! And the photos are outstanding… as always.
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Thank you, Charley!
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You are welcome, Frank!
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Totally charmed by what you have written! Hope having penguin wings – that is a delightful image. Your pictures surprise me – they look like our winged friends here in Florida rather than your usual Chicago shots.
Glad you joined in and glad you chose Emily.
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We are on vacation in Miami which explains the familiar birds. Thanks, Jilly, for the prompt!
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Beautifully done Frank!
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Thank you!
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Bravo Frank. A glorious combination of pictures and flight of fancy.
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Thanks, Peter!
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When we wait and are in the present, hope will come when you least think it will and sometimes it comes to us in disguise. Great lines.
“That’s why we let the present be.
Hope may fly through gray,”
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I am often surprised when things work out in ways I didn’t think were possible. Thank you!
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Hope that can soar on penguins wings is either madness or great strength
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Those penguins don’t get very high off the ground. Thanks, Walter!
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Hope will always fly the highest Frank ~ But when we are lost, we better pray to find our way back ~ Love the photos too~
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Prayer often works better than we expect it to. Thank you, Grace!
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You chose the perfect poem for your style and voice, Frank. I love it! And you even used 8-6-8-6 (common meter)!
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I tried to imitate the original meter. I am glad you liked it, Victoria!
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Gorgeous photography. And I like these lines:
“No matter what we think we know
We’ll trust that it knows more.”
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Thank you, Amaya! I am glad you liked those lines and the photos!
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Great job Frank. I love your subtle political overtones all through out your poem. The alternate truth was choice!
Dwight
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There often is an alternate perspective. Thank you, Dwight!
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Totally enjoyed your response poem and feathered photos…is the top bird an egret? (We saw them in Hawaii last week.)
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That name sounds like what that bird should be called, but I don’t know much about birds. I just like it when they are in the photos adding some contrast to the scene. Thank you, Lynn!
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Your style is the mirror image of Emily Dickinson’s. Well done!
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Thank you, Jane! I tried to imitate her poem.
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You certainly succeeded.
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Ha… there are so many kind of feathers.
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There are many! Thanks, Bjorn!
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Beautiful! I think we have to be good and lost sometimes to see that hope is a real thing.
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I agree. Getting lost gives us the focus to see what is really out there. Thank you, Mary!
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What an uplifting write Frank!
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I try to aim for something positive. Thank you, Linda!
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I like the line, “If hope should have small penguin wings,” when I think of the picture it puts in my mind I have to giggle. It’s been a while, Frank, nice to have time to write and read your poem again. Hugs!
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Best wishes, Bekkie! I am glad you liked that penguin wings line. I doubt that those birds can fly better than I can.
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When Love Leaves the Room
Tree oF LiFe Goes BaReR
Faith and Trust for what is
ending any
semblance
AS Hope’s
pleaSure
Fades
eVen FuRTHeR aWay
BesT pArt LeFt Change..:)
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I agree. When love leaves hope’s pleasure fades. Thanks, Fred!
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WiLL
SuRViVES..:)
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Your first stanza had me questioning everything but by the last stanza all felt right with the world again. 🙂
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The first stanza was supposed to bring in some tension. I am glad it got resolved by the end. Thank you!
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I like how you answer Emily Dickenson so faithfully! Well done!
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Thank you, Frank! I somehow think I just rewrote what she did using different words.
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A poem full of hope and beautiful bird photos. Specially the white bird who permited the take of his most photogenic side. 😀
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I was afraid that bird was going to fly away before I could get close enough to it for some photos with my phone. Thank you, Danik!
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I enjoyed the line “We hope and find some way”. By that you point to the other side of love, which is faith, and make it clear there is no way around it.
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Good point about faith being the other side of love. Thank you, Vaccinius!
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such a spot on response to Emily’s verse. I like to see that hope is adaptable, that it can soar as well as sail when we need to find our way. good photo representation too.
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Thank you, Gina! I wasn’t sure what to say in response to her poem because I kind of liked what she said. I am glad you liked the photo!
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So like hope.. 🙂
loved these lines especially – No matter what we think we know
We’ll trust that it knows more.
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We only know a small part of it all. Thank you, Vidyatiru!
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A wonderful depiction of hope, Frank. Most inspired.
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Thank you, Robbie!
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You took Dickenson’s voice and amplified it with your own! Inspiring😊
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I tried to make it sound like the original and maybe even mean the same thing. Thank you, Vivian!
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My pleasure!
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Looks like it was a beautiful day at the water. Great photos!
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It was although a bit cool. Thank you, Terre!
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I like cool! I LOVE cool bright days at the beach!!! My favorite!!
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Emily’s was cute, yours was broader
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Thank you, Sabio! I like broader.
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Extremely beautiful poem.
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Thank you!
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