Hope

  For fear of losing hope,

           I spent most of my time wishing,

                                                 dreaming,

                                                      imagining,

                                                           rather than acting.

  So it was quite ironic, really,

                     when the first thing I lost

                                    in the battle of life,

                                                            death

                                                                and ambition,

                                                                       turned up to be

                                                                                  none other than

                                                                                                          hope?

                                                                       And now hope to me

                                     is more a goal than a means.

         A goal that I may never

                                           attain.

February 22, 1997