“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers
Hummingbird Featured Poem. “Hope” is the Thing with Feathers
By Emily Dickinson
“Hope” is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -
And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -
I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.
Editor’s Note: This is the first of Emily Dickinson’s poems featured in the Hummingbird Poetry Series. “Hope” was selected for the deft and uplifting use of the bird as a metaphor for “Hope.” Perched in our souls, it sings continuously, despite the challenges we encounter, it is unwavering.
