Vintage verse – Hope is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson

Hope is the thing with feathers

“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.

by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Photo by Christine Klocek-Lim