A meaningful assignment

Hope

by Brian Quinn

When all about you is black with gloom,

And all you feel is pending doom.

When your bones are racked with grim despair -

When every breath is a gasp for air.

Keep on going, though you need to grope,

For around the bend is a ray of hope.

A ray of hope is perhaps all that's left,

As your will to live has been bereft.

You've lost it all, it's just no use!

You can end it all, you need no excuse.

But throw away that piece of rope,

And give yourself a chance of hope.

Just give yourself another day,

Brushing aside what your thoughts may say.

This is your life and you can make a new start,

By ignoring the brain - just follow the heart.

Taking baby steps in order to cope,

And minute by minute you'll build on your hope.

Build on your hope,. one day at a time,

Though the road be steep and hard to climb.

The hurts of the past - they should be dead.

The fears of the future are all in your head.

Just live in the present and refuse to mope

Your life will sparkle for you're living in hope.

Task

Write in a paragraph of about 150-200 words on your perspective of this poem. You may include your experience, if you wish to share with your classmates.

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When I was small, I did everything with happiness by following my heart. I finished my homework quickly because I wanted to play around with my neighbours and I read because I wanted to know about the story. When I was in secondary school, there were changes in my value of 'success' by adding in the context of dissatisfaction. Harsh competition among peers and judgement by teachers had been taken into account for studying process. Everyone around me was striving to score straight As in examination. However, through the years under such circumstances, I have learnt to focus on learning process instead of the result.There were times I wallowed in self pity when I encountered negative things in life. Somehow, I have realized that positive disposition is important in life because it is the source of happiness. Failure is not frightening and we should learn to recover and mend it. I have tried to look on the bright side of life whenever I am sad and gloomy. Similarly, from this poem, it stated that "for around the bend is a ray of hope". Everyday, there is hope waiting ahead so we should give ourselves an opportunity to embrace the happiness of life. Lastly, listen to the voice deep inside our hearts and live life to the fullest.

Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams. You are the center of your universe, and you can make anything happen.