The Expression of 'Hope'

"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul." - Emily Dickinson

 

Born on Dec. 10, 1830, Dickinson was not famous in her own short lifetime (she died at age 56).  It was only after her death that her sister discovered nearly 1,800 poems of her poems - fewer than a dozen poems published while she was alive.  The first "collection" of her poetry wasn't published until 1890 and a complete collection The Poems of Emily Dickinson not until 1955.

A native of Amherst, Dickinson spent most of her introverted and reclusive life at her family's home where she was considered an eccentric by the locals.  She became known for a penchant for wearing all white and a reluctance to greet guests, or even leave her room. Writing was her passion, and most of her friendships were carried out through correspondence, many letters displaying her poetic writing style.  For Saturday's Poem, here is Dickinson's,  

                   Hope
"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.

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