Ode to Hope and Smoke (poem) by John Herlihy on AuthorsDen

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John Herlihy

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Ode to Hope and Smoke
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Friday, September 18, 2026 Rated "G" by the Author.

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Odes to Hope and Smoke by John Herlihy Lo and behold The twilight world Of inward hope And outward smoke Tree logs burn To create smoke Our hearts yearn To create hope Rising hope Something earned Rising smoke Something burned Fading hope Unanswered prayer Fading smoke Thins into air Holy hope As incense within Holy smoke Incense as hymn Calligraphy of hope A sacred psalm Calligraphy of smoke Raises alarm Hope as evidence Proof of desire Smoke as evidence Proof of fire Misty hope Clarifies vision Cloudy smoke Obscures vision Dreamy hope Hope that lingers Dying smoke Slips thru fingers The silence of hope The sight of a bird The silence of smoke As a signal heard The breath of hope As flaming fire The breath of smoke As fires expire The spirit of hope A butterfly alights The soul of smoke Rises unto heights - - - - - Copyright © John Herlihy Wednesday 4 February 2026

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Reviews of "Ode to Hope and Smoke"

Reviewed by Ronald Hull

Reviewed on September 18, 2026

Hope is eternal, but often isn't resolved by a lifetime of hoping. As Obama put it, hope is audacious.

Once again you present a wide range of the way we view hope. Well done

Ron

Reviewed by Odin odin@aflx.com

Reviewed on September 18, 2026

Your analogy thoughts send the message out loud and clear. I only wish we could count more on hope as an inevitable saving grace. Seems each day attempts to take down hope another notch with the way our leadership is flogging themselves.

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