Thank you Mike! I was inspired by your poem! You hit all the good points! I wanted to create the image of lifting the self out of the dark spots and moving forward with a lighter brevity.
I love this. I’ve learned over time to always live with hope in my heart, even when life feels heavy or uncertain. This captures hope not as something delicate, but as something true and sustaining. Thank you both for sharing this light. 🩷
What I really appreciated here for both of your wonderful pieces Dorie and PancakeSushi, is how hope isn’t treated as a mood to escape into, but as something forged, tended, and carried forward.
There’s a quiet steadiness across both pieces. Light not as denial of grief, but as something that learns how to exist alongside it.
I especially loved how hope is framed less as fragility and more as continuity: breath by breath, step by step, practiced rather than wished for.
It feels gentle without being naive, and that balance is hard-earned.
I’m so glad you read it that way! The original poem that I wrote for this piece was about parenting and seeing Hope through your children, but then when I got Mike’s piece,
I was like oh no no that doesn’t work. I have to fly through this. I thought to myself that it would be amazing if Hope could be like the giant firecrackers we have during celebrations and it would just float around and touch everyone as it fell back to earth.
Dorie, hope is something we must hold within ourselves and also encourage in others. But a subtle problem arises when our hope is not fully rooted in God. Sometimes we only say with our lips, “God will surely fulfill this,” while our hearts remain uncertain. We do not place complete trust.
This is a very fine line, Dorie...the difference between hope and hope anchored in total surrender and faith. True hope is not just spoken; it is lived through full reliance and quiet trust.
Dawn, thank you for your thoughtful comment. I have the utmost respect for your opinion, and personal beliefs. I am not a Christian. I believe in a universal way, leaning towards Taoism and Buddhism.
Hope is a wonderful thing for everyone to experience. It can come in many forms. For some its belief in God, for others it can be the light in a child’s eyes, the smile from a stranger.
One thing I can say with absolute certainty is that there is not a dark corner in this world where hope fails to exist. We just have to be open to it, embrace it, keep moving forward.
I’m truly happy about your collaboration, and about how hope manages to emerge through so many dense, overwhelming shadows. Congratulations — I enjoyed both poems
Thank you. Even you only exist half in shadow, and like Sara says, we have to have a healthy incorporation of it. I read too many that dwelt on the negativity and I hope a break helps
It turned out great
Your poem is like a spiral thread into the heavens, it's very different from your usual style and I love it! So well done, Dorie
Thank you Mike! I was inspired by your poem! You hit all the good points! I wanted to create the image of lifting the self out of the dark spots and moving forward with a lighter brevity.
These were wonderful to read during a break at work on a day that I can't wait to just get out of here so my weekend can start.
This reminded me to allow myself to see the joy in everyday moments.
Thank you Aiden
Thank you! Yes! You gave me an idea!
I love this. I’ve learned over time to always live with hope in my heart, even when life feels heavy or uncertain. This captures hope not as something delicate, but as something true and sustaining. Thank you both for sharing this light. 🩷
Thank you Andrea
Excellent
Thank you Mack
Thank you
Yeah I also know I need to change my register or I become too predictable. I have two pieces in queue so after that.
Thank you Saif
I’m intrigued
Well done. Both beautiful poems. I should probably try this.
Thank you Saif
Want to? You should! Thank you Saif.
Wow so brilliant.. it's leaning towards the hope, the brightness... I wish we all find it ... Awesome poems💛💛💛
Thank you pm
My pleasure💛💛
Thank you pm! I hope we all do.
My pleasure💛💛💛Agree and hoping the same💛
What I really appreciated here for both of your wonderful pieces Dorie and PancakeSushi, is how hope isn’t treated as a mood to escape into, but as something forged, tended, and carried forward.
There’s a quiet steadiness across both pieces. Light not as denial of grief, but as something that learns how to exist alongside it.
I especially loved how hope is framed less as fragility and more as continuity: breath by breath, step by step, practiced rather than wished for.
It feels gentle without being naive, and that balance is hard-earned.
This offered a wonderful and genuine pause.
Thank you both for it.
this feels like two friends reaching for the same light from opposite sides of the room~
Mike gives hope bones and duty~ something you build and protect.
Dorie lets it float, breathe, scatter color where it lands.
together it doesn’t beg or whisper. it walks. it rises.
quietly stubborn. shared hope hits different~
Thank you Asuka
I’m so glad you read it that way! The original poem that I wrote for this piece was about parenting and seeing Hope through your children, but then when I got Mike’s piece,
I was like oh no no that doesn’t work. I have to fly through this. I thought to myself that it would be amazing if Hope could be like the giant firecrackers we have during celebrations and it would just float around and touch everyone as it fell back to earth.
I’m so excited that you saw that!
Dorie, hope is something we must hold within ourselves and also encourage in others. But a subtle problem arises when our hope is not fully rooted in God. Sometimes we only say with our lips, “God will surely fulfill this,” while our hearts remain uncertain. We do not place complete trust.
This is a very fine line, Dorie...the difference between hope and hope anchored in total surrender and faith. True hope is not just spoken; it is lived through full reliance and quiet trust.
Dawn, thank you for your thoughtful comment. I have the utmost respect for your opinion, and personal beliefs. I am not a Christian. I believe in a universal way, leaning towards Taoism and Buddhism.
Hope is a wonderful thing for everyone to experience. It can come in many forms. For some its belief in God, for others it can be the light in a child’s eyes, the smile from a stranger.
One thing I can say with absolute certainty is that there is not a dark corner in this world where hope fails to exist. We just have to be open to it, embrace it, keep moving forward.
Namaste🩷
I’m truly happy about your collaboration, and about how hope manages to emerge through so many dense, overwhelming shadows. Congratulations — I enjoyed both poems
Thank you Pheoby🩷
Thank you Phoeby
Thank you. Even you only exist half in shadow, and like Sara says, we have to have a healthy incorporation of it. I read too many that dwelt on the negativity and I hope a break helps
Thank you HVR.
We thought new year maybe something upbeat…
Thank you Sophia