"Hope" is the thing with feathers, by Emily Dickinson (art by Sarah Martin)

"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.

I needed to make this tonight. And thank God that I was able to find and successfully upload this image of a painting Sarah made in high school inspired by this Emily Dickinson poem.

I could have cut and pasted it.

But I needed to type it.

I needed to experience each letter of each word. Part of me is happy it is a short poem. And part of me is sad that it doesn't have more words for me to type. But the meaning is there and it is as powerful as I remembered and needed it to be.

Thank you Emily for this hope. And thank you Sarah for adding your vision and yourself to my relationship with it. May I memorize this poem to use in future prayer.