I lost a silver rose
earring in the woods
once while hiking.

Another time,
I left a favorite bottle
on a rock somewhere,

forgotten a sweatshirt
on a tree limb and
even dropped a glove.

More significantly,
I shed my dread, anxiety,
and worry along the cliffs,

but I always come back with
hope, and sometimes hope
is all we have.

We carry it with us
in our pocket
like a lucky stone

rub circles along it
with our fingers
at early dawn

Keep it with us
near our heart
and pull it out

through long hours
through daily drudgery
through turbulent moments

and over mountains.