In her hands she holds the Sun

Hope bubbles up from dimness

Draped in loose, bright orange silk

Bursting free to dance away, singing.

Hope flies across the field

Her sunspun cotton dress twirling

As she skips across the dew drops.

Hope turns towards the forest

Amber jewelry glittering on every finger, hem, sleeve

And waves for me to follow.

Hope stops, sudden short, at the cave’s mouth

Yellow skirts dulling to grey

As she falls to her knees, silent.

Despair creeps through the void

Midnight velvet clinging to her form, tight

holds out her hand to Hope, urging.

Despair struts, taunting in her domain

Onyx gemstones flashing at her throat 

Beckoning the fallen onward.

Despair waits, circling the forest

Cloak of shadows wavering

She moves to strike.

Despair crows in the cave

Shawl of darkness wrapped ‘round her

seizing with clawed hands, dragging Hope down.

Hope weeps in the darkness

clothed in tattered rags of light

A single beacon flares.

Hope rises, facing Despair in the mists

Glowing gown, full of orange, red, yellow, radiant as flame

In her hands she holds the sun.