Feather and "Hope"

On January 12, 2016, a feather floated by on a pond at the Gilbert Preserve at Water Ranch in Gilbert, Arizona.  The poem that I have posted below is by one of my mother's favorite poets, Emily Dickinson. Link to the poem's source is HERE

“Hope” is the thing with feathers 

BY EMILY DICKINSON

“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 -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.