Hope Blooms: A Poem by Michael Massa

Hope Blooms: A Poem

The pandemic entered with the previous year’s “Ides of March”, boldly carousing ... random and ravishing..

It tried to stop everything and anything in its way that it could..

-But It could not Stop

Faith.

It made people afraid,

with feverish anxiety...

-But it could not Stop  Love

It forced people to stay apart from one another...

• But It could not Stop Closeness 

It ruthlessly tore through the streets ...

-But it could not Stop   

  Peace

It turned the world topsy turvey,

• But it could not Stop the world from Spinning

It darkened our special places like perpetual night..

-But it could not Stop 

the Stars from shining

It flourished like a group of shadows..

-But it could not Stop   

  the Living 

It sowed doubt into

peoples’ souls with an infectious sneer,

-But it could not Stop Hope

And finally,  weakened, it reluctantly 

tried to replant itself,  -But beheld the glory 

  And promise of 

   April’s Cherry

   blossoms...

    -and it simply could 

     not

     Stop them from 

     blooming.