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Hope is: a free verse poem

The wonderful poet, Sadje, is the Poet of the Week for the W3 Prompt #107. Sadje asks us to write a poem on the theme of Hope.

Sadje’s guidelines
There is too much hopelessness in the world today, so I want us all to write about ‘Hope’. The length and form are up to you. Remember to make your poem hopeful and not hopeless!


I wrote my poem, Hope is… inspired by this prompt.

Hope is…

Hope is | Digital oil painting©️Lesley Scoble
Hope is…
Every time you hear a song,
And know when the day seems far too long
The stars await for night.

When fear clutches at your very soul
Turn your gaze t’ward the sky,
Or watch the wondrous workings of the mole
Who has hope to build his mountain hill.
There is hope out there,
It’s somewhere,
Still.

Relinquish doom and mournful sigh
And see the changing clouds glide by.
Every time someone saves a bee,
There is hope for thee,
For them,
And I.

Every time someone feeds a wild bird,
Every time someone helps a child,
To lend a smile…
And offer kindness with a word…
In rank and file,
A prayer is heard,

Every time someone recycles from their bin,
There is hope hereabout, therein.
~

Lesley Clare Scoble, May 2024

Thank you so much, Sadje, for your prompt to write a hopeful poem about Hope. I struggled to hope that I could find any hope. I thank you for making me focus on positives. I realise it is in the little things that we can find vestiges of this vital and essential need in life.

The Mole

I included an industrious mole in my poem about Hope. They are small creatures with a deep brown velvety fur. Some people call them pests. Why? Because they create impermanent molehills on pampered mown lawns. I include him as my metaphor of Hope hoping mankind (inhumans) can stop persecuting our precious wildlife. 

It is inconceivable that when you can still walk down a country lane to the barbarous vision of multiple moles hung on a fence of barbed wire like washing hanging out to dry. It is hard to hold out for any kind of hope for mankind. This brutal image shall sicken me for ever.

Why do moles make molehills?

  • When a mole digs shallow tunnels just below the surface of lawns and flowerbeds, it pushes the displaced soil up vertical tunnels, resulting in molehills.
  • These tunnels are temporary, as moles create them while searching for food, such as earthworms and insects.
  • The main purpose of their extensive tunnel system is to create an underground trap for invertebrates. Once a mole establishes its territory, it doesn’t need to dig many more tunnels.
  • Moles can run backward through their tunnels and even turn right around by doing a somersault! Their long claws on their front limbs are their shovels to dig the earth.

ACKNOLEDGEMENTS
Thank you, Sadje for your hopeful prompt. I need to find more of it in these troubled times of ours. Thank you for inspiring me to look for it.
My humble thanks to David, our gracious host.

Lesley lives in the City of London Square Mile. An artist, actor and sculptor (her first ceramic sculpture won the V&A inspired by… Award). Scenic artist & book illustrator, playwright (her musical play, Rapscallion performed in inner city schools and theatre school); TV dancer; Animator and illustrator for TV production. Set up Pinecone Studios Ltd and IIMSI Ltd drama and filmmaking workshops in London – producing award-winning films made by children.

lesleyscoble

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32 responses to “Hope is: a free verse poem”

  4. I absolutely love your poem. I didn’t know moles stop digging tunnels once they have established a territory. I am not sure I will be able to shake the brutal image of the moles hanging on the fence. I know people poison the moles without any thought of the food chain but I’d never saw or heard of that.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • So sorry, Heather. I considered cutting the grim part (I censored the photo). I get upset and angry when I come across cruelty and destruction of wildlife. Every time someone places a slug pellet they speed up the demise of our beloved hedgehogs, for example.
      We must focus on the positives. (as I try to in my poem).
      I appreciate your comment and thank you very much for the compliment. ❤️

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  8. This is so touching, Lesley. Thank you for sticking up for the mole and allowing it to become a metaphor for hope. I, too, hate to see them strung up on wire fences. It’s gruesome and, as far as I’m concerned, unnecessary.
    I agree, wherever there is kindness, there is hope.

    Liked by 1 person

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