Hope is a gift
of the farsighted
who dwell up high
and delight at a
safe distance;
who don’t hesitate
to fence in foundations
lined in red settings
for better fate.
Up close and blurry
everything is worry.
Living in a panic shack
under constant attack
in such a hurry
never forgetting
always too late.
No chance for moss
to catch the light.
Only flights of fright
and stacks of hate
available for subletting.
Painting by Seth Clark