My Old Friend Named Hope
By Ashley O’Hare
The ghost of my past
won’t leave me alone.
I’m reminded of the path—
the greener path
that I was supposed to take.
Back then I was stronger.
Back then hope still existed.
The promise of better days
still laid ahead.
As the years
have come and gone
Hope has slipped out
of my grasp.
Naively I wish
my old friend
will one day return.
But my track record holds—
all of my friends leave
and they stay gone
Forever.