EMERGING;

Between the strands of

golden doll hair

and

bright red jam piled on

buttered toast,

They asked you what hope was.

Scratching your head of

glittery rainbow clips,

You said

“Hope is to know every every every single thing in the world”

YOUNG;

In rooms bleached

with

lead and rubber,

They asked you what hope was.

Red ink

bled through

white chalk,

You said

“Hope is to leave and claim a place of my own.”

ADULT;

Through shelves filled

with papers,

Sculpting creases

across your skin.

They asked you what hope was.

Bright screen

reflects off

Blue-light glasses,

You said

“Hope is to fight for the top.”

ELDERLY;

Around baskets

of flowers,

An old rocking chair.

You asked them what hope was.

Sweet cake

soaked in

Bitter tea,

They said:

“Hope is nothing but to live through every tomorrow.”