Hope Is Not a Bird, Emily, It’s a Sewer Rat by Caitlin Seida

Hope Is Not a Bird, Emily, It’s a Sewer Ratby Caitlin Seida

Hope is not the thing with feathersThat comes home to roostWhen you need it most.

Hope is an ugly thingWith teeth and claws andPatchy fur that’s seen some shit.

It’s what thrives in the discardsAnd survives in the ugliest parts of our world,Able to find a way to go onWhen nothing else can even find a way in.

It’s the gritty, nasty little carrier of suchdiseases asoptimism, persistence,Perseverance and joy,Transmissible as it drags its tail acrossyour pathandbites you in the ass.

Hope is not some delicate, beautiful bird,Emily.It’s a lowly little sewer ratThat snorts pesticides like they wereLines of coke and stillShows up on time to work the next dayLooking no worse for wear.