Cabin Hope’s Uses

It’s not an all-purpose tool,

But hope is often treated

As the duct tape, Leatherman,

And WD-40

Of carrying on with life.

For anything unlikely,

There’s hope. And for anything

Too likely, there’s always hope.

For surgeries, lotteries,

Miraculous romances,

Ordinary promotions,

There’s hope. What is hope good for?

If you weren’t going to try,

When you had a solid chance

Of succeeding if you did

(Leaving aside the question

Of how much chance is solid),

Then hope might motivate you

To try. Past that, let’s cabin

The range of situations.

Hope can do more harm than good.

Everyone knows an ant can’t

Etc. Don’t supra

Spem spero every damned thing.

Some things you’re better off not

Getting, and you don’t know what

Those are. Hang the greedy thing

With feathers, if it won’t rest

Ever at all. Rufter hood

Its head at least. Train it well.