HM Holten

Hope

In a derelict world,

We need Kindness.

Yet, kindness may not be enough.

*

Recklessness takes away strength,

Compels us to carry the cost and

Turns us to strife

*

In a world of strife

We need Patience.

*

Patience to bear what is raw

Will turn against us

Transform us to fighters

Who savour their rudeness.

*

In a world of rudeness

We need Grace.

*

But rudeness can alter a man

To a beast that is stronger

And laughs at our grace

To plunge us into the depth

Of despair.

*

In a world of despair

We need Hope

*

Will hope be our saviour

When thoroughly lost?

Or will strength come together and

Bring us across?

©HMH, 2021

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Hanne H

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Comments

26 responses to “Hope”

  1. Anna+Casamento+Arrigo avatar
    Anna+Casamento+Arrigo

    Beautiful!! Poignant! Moving! True!

    Reply
    1. Hanne H avatar
      Hanne H

      Thank you so much, Anna!

      Reply
  2. Debi+Ennis+Binder avatar
    Debi+Ennis+Binder

    Such a sweet piece of truth, Hanne. I love your truisms, even when they made me a bit sad.

    Reply
    1. Hanne H avatar
      Hanne H

      Thank you, Debi. There’s nothing wrong with being sad — when it is for a good reason. It isn’t easy to be human but there is some comfort in looking reality straight into its eyes — don’t you agree?

      Reply
      1. Debi Ennis Binder avatar
        Debi Ennis Binder

        Yes, I agree. But as a fantasy writer, it’s not often a choice!

        Reply
        1. Hanne H avatar
          Hanne H

          You’re probably right about that, Debi. On the other hand, doesn’t our fantasies come out of our reality? Anyway, I’ve read your Dragon Rings. Enjoyed it a lot and have only one little bugbear. Don’t worry about it, if you don’t agree. . .

          Reply
          1. Debi+Ennis+Binder avatar
            Debi+Ennis+Binder

            What’s your bugbear? I’m always looking forward to finding anything I can better explain so that no one ever has a problem with it.

  3. Hanne H avatar
    Hanne H

    Would you rather hear it from me here? I’ve already written a review of your book and will post it on Sunday. All in all, it doesn’t reflect negatively on my evaluation of your book. Just thought it important to mention all my thoughts. . .

    Reply
    1. Debi+Ennis+Binder avatar
      Debi+Ennis+Binder

      Nope, I’ll read it on Sunday with your other reviews. Thanks!
      I swear I’ve meant to ask you every time I reply to you how you’re doing in the pandemic? Had you been a work-from-home person before it began? How are things going with it where you are?

      Reply
      1. Hanne H avatar
        Hanne H

        That’s great. Although, my review will appear on Goodreads and Amazon.de on Sunday. I don’t have enough for a blog post yet, but it will come later — and it will include your review too.
        Thanks for asking. In Germany, the numbers are dropping at present, but here in Bremerhaven, we’re still much too high in the weekly infections. Most of my work is home-based. At the beginning of the pandemic, I lost some students, but the situation has changed for the better since January.
        I hope you are all right too. Do tell me about your situation.

        Reply
        1. Debi Ennis Binder avatar
          Debi Ennis Binder

          Glad to hear it! What are you teaching? I took an early retirement a few years ago from cubicle world so I could join hubby in his retirement. My writing isn’t for a living, thank goodness!

          The pandemic in my state is better than some, but we aren’t a very populous state, either. Our numbers have been going down, probably because our governor is kind of draconian. Despite the inconveniences, it’s good to have the numbers down! I hope yours stay down!

          Reply
          1. Hanne H avatar
            Hanne H

            It must’ve been a good decision. I hope you’re enjoying your shared retirement in full measure. Sometimes, it is an advantage to live in less populated areas. The inconveniences are less hard to live with when one recognises that they help.
            I hope that it will stay that way.

            My teaching is divided between the piano and singing. I have students that sing and some that play the piano. I used to sing opera. . . Nowadays, I concentrate on writing, teaching, and recording jazzy songs. . .

          2. Hanne H avatar
            Hanne H

            Just thought that I’d let you know, that your review is up on Goodreads. Amazon.de will let me know when the review is ‘ready’

          3. Debi Ennis Binder avatar
            Debi Ennis Binder

            Can’t wait to read it!

  4. Hanne H avatar
    Hanne H

    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3837489212?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
    https://www.amazon.de/gp/customer-reviews/R5TF6MXH9KO6X/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B075H39PVD
    In case you haven’t seen them yet, here are the links, Debi. You will find a discrepancy between the two as Amazon didn’t want me to post ‘swearwords’. . .

    Reply
    1. Debi Ennis Binder avatar
      Debi Ennis Binder

      Hi Joanne,
      I read your review and I was thrilled with it! You have such a way with words it made me wonder if you read the book I wrote! 🤭
      The word you had trouble with, was it the “not quite the BAD word” that I once used, was scolded for, and have ceased using? I was told either you’re in there or you aren’t. I thought about going ahead and changing it and republishing. I might just donut and erase my half in/half out way of thinking!

      Reply
    2. Debi Ennis Binder avatar
      Debi Ennis Binder

      Don’t ask me who Joanne is.

      Reply
    3. Debi Ennis Binder avatar
      Debi Ennis Binder

      Hi Hanne,
      First of all, I have no idea who Joanne is. Heehee.
      Since that was messed up I don’t even know if you got my comment, asking you about the relevant “word” I sent earlier. Are we on the same page yet?

      Reply
      1. Hanne H avatar
        Hanne H

        I believe we are. If — by a not Quite bad word — you mean something starting with f and ending with ing. . .
        By the way, I’ve no idea who Joanne is either. Wonder what she was doing here.

        Reply
        1. Debi+Ennis+Binder avatar
          Debi+Ennis+Binder

          We are so crossing emails today that it’s almost entertaining in itself!! So, here’s to getting our wires uncrossed, me figuring out what F-word to use, and Joanne, whoever you are, leave us alone!

          Reply
          1. Hanne H avatar
            Hanne H

            That sounds great! I’ve nothing to say against being entertaining — on the contrary. I hope you’ll come up with something juicy as a replacement. . .

            Did it occur to you that Joanne could be an outraged Ring Witch?

          2. Debi Ennis Binder avatar
            Debi Ennis Binder

            I’m afraid I’m stuck with the timeworn fu. At least the readers who feel it’s the only word that will properly express barbarian outrage will be content. I just wonder how the mysterious Jo insinuated herself into our emails!

  5. Hanne H avatar
    Hanne H

    Oh well, it is your decision after all. I’m not convinced that it does express ‘barbarian outrage’, but that is just my view. I wouldn’t have mentioned it in a review otherwise.
    Looked it up — it appears that it was first used in 1475. Here is a link to an article on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuck

    She may have been one of those barbarians. . .

    Reply
    1. Debi Ennis Binder avatar
      Debi Ennis Binder

      I was teasing you about barbarian outrage. I don’t consider any of my characters to be barbarians in any way. But they do have very colorful language!

      Reply
    2. Debi Ennis Binder avatar
      Debi Ennis Binder

      BTW, love the article, especially the Grammar section! What a versatile word!

      Reply
  6. Hanne H avatar
    Hanne H

    Thank you, Debi!

    Reply

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