perched in the soul

“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.

--Emily Dickinson

Happy 183rd Birthday, Emily Dickinson!

When I was an angsty 13 year old, who dreamed of being a poet, my favorite Auntie Ruthie introduced me to Emily Dickinson. Mind blown.