About | thethingwithfeathers

Why "The Thing With Feathers"? What do feathers have to do with chronic illness? Hope, the most important thing for anyone who suffers from these afflictions to have.

Being a poet I have always been drawn to poems with themes of hope. Emily Dickinson wrote the poem "Hope is the thing with feathers" and I feel it is very appropriate for everyone dealing with these hard issues. It goes like this:

"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 --

But never in Extremity,

It asked a crumb -- of Me.

Feathers are the most important thing, they are the hope that floats in your heart even during the darkest days. I hope that you can all keep feathers in your hearts as well and remember what Emily Dickinson wrote.