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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Hope (05/04/06)
Crushed by a cross,
Expectations hanging on three nails,
Tortured, mutilated, and crucified,
Spit on, mocked, and humiliated,
Hope.

All reward for believing the impossible,
Gone, thwarted, frustrated,
Disappointed, checkmated, and lost,
Death stole the prize,
Hope.

You died.
We saw you swoon,
We anointed your body,
Watched the stone rolled over to eclipse the light,
We celebrated a desecrated Sabbath,
Hope.

Based on what evidence could we
Call a wound a blessing?
A Cancer a cure?
A death a birth?
Is there anyway we could still
Hope?

Evidence says no,
We are sickened to hear it again.
Review the facts,
Follow to the same conclusions,
Again and again,
Hope.

Faith says dare to believe.
Look up, look forward, look again.
Despite the betrayal,
Despite the theft,
Dare to call the end a beginning,
Hope.

You must be alive somewhere,
My shield,
My strength,
My shepherd,
Hope.

And you will find me,
Waiting, praying, crying out for you.
Outside the empty tomb,
On the road to Emmaus,
Next to my loved one’ s grave,
Because you told me
Never to give up
Hope.

I can not afford not to
Hope.
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This article has been read 1348 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jessica Schmit
05/13/06
Wow, this is truly incredible. You have touched on every type of despair situation tht requires hope to continue walking. beautiful work.
Val Clark
05/13/06
Indeed, of all the things we can not afford to lose, hope is the one. Well done.
Helen Paynter
05/15/06
Beautiful writing. I love this : ' Based on what evidence could we
Call a wound a blessing?
A Cancer a cure?
A death a birth?
Is there anyway we could still
Hope? '
Carla Feagans
05/15/06
Very well done, beautifully written. I really enjoyed this.
Brandi Roberts
05/18/06
First things first here, I don't see where you clearly covered the topic. Yes, throwing in the word "hope" here and there does a fine job in pretending, but I tend to disagree.

Next, the rhythm is completely off. I can't stand free verse that runs rampant and ragged through its own lines.

And why would you capitalize cancer and not "Shepherd"? Is the sickness greater than the healer?

I've read better than this in beginners.
Beth Muehlhausen
05/23/06
Here's the heart of the matter:

"Faith says dare to believe.
Look up, look forward, look again.
Despite the betrayal,
Despite the theft,
Dare to call the end a beginning,
Hope."

Unique format and flow.