'Hope' is the Thing with Feathers

By EMILY DICKINSON

“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.

The poem portrays hope as a resilient bird that resides within every individual. It sings tirelessly, even during storms and hardships. Through metaphor, Dickinson emphasizes that hope persists without demanding anything in return, much like a bird that never asks for breadcrumbs but continues to sing merrily.

—Thomas Zhang (Feb 2, 2024, mid-night)