Arguably Dickinson’s best-known joyful work. The poem shows us an abstract feeling, hope, and metaphors it into a physical image of a perching bird. Certainly a departure from many of her other works that discuss themes of pain and death. The central image of a feathered, lighthearted, bundle of singing joy has become an Emily Dickinson brand message. Found on greeting cards and coffee mugs worldwide.
“Hope” is the thing with feathers
“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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Poem – Hope is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson, circa 1861
Image – “hope typography with dandelion on purple sky” by kissikunterbunt, licensed for Prose and Poetry by Splashlime via adobe stock.
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