Hope in War

by Courtney Flanagan

Hope is a promise bound to break
Hope makes you believe and dream
But dreams are only imaginary
Hope is a lie that tells you truths
Hope is something I want but not to lose
Hope is scary to me because it’s always in use
Hope makes you believe even if you know
It’s not the truth.

Written by Courtney Flanagan as part of Poetry as Commemoration workshops led by Róisín Sheehy in Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa, Clara, Co. Offaly in December 2023.