in the claws of grinding dismay, hope endures.

in the talons of savage reality, hope endures.

wedged deep the thorns may be, yet hope endures.

bruised bloody the soul may feel, yet hope endures.

beyond these words, hope endures.

past this paltry rhyme, hope endures.

soaring into the boundless sky, hope endures.

running free in fields of flowers, hope endures.

hope endures, as life batters the day,
hope endures, as today shatters the night,

hope endures, as it must, for the journey ahead

hope endures, as it must, for the avenues yet to be tread …