Far From Neutral Notions - Philippine politics, culture and stuff : Blog Archive : Hope

Hope

January 6th, 2005

Hope is when you believe
The earth is not a dream but living flesh,
That sight, touch, and hearing do not lie,
That all things you have ever seen here
Are like a garden looked at from a gate.

You cannot enter. But you’re sure it’s there.
Could we but look more clearly and wisely
We might discover somewhere in the garden
A strange new flower and an unnamed star.

Some people say we should not trust our eyes,
That there is nothing, just a seeming,
These are the ones who have no hope.
They think that the moment we turn away,
The world, behind our backs, ceases to exist,
As if snatched up by the hands of thieves.

Czeslaw Milosz

I remember first reading this poem at Humanities class. Which is the only place where I actually read any poetry, actually. Still, this one just absolutely touches me on several levels, and the last line was purposefully (I think) left hanging, the unspoken thought being that “they are wrong”. I know the garden is there, even thought I’ve only had brief glimpses of it. I can’t enter - yet - but I believe.

I hope.

Damn I’m feeling incredibly sappy today