How is hope evident in the poem “Praise Song for the Day,”?

Hope is evident in this poem through the depiction of everyday life, mentions of the past and future, and themes of love.

When the poet describes that there is always “Someone… stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair” (7-9)¹, this shows that wherever, or who ever you are, there will always be millions of people in the world that are just like you, living their life. This could convey a feeling of optimism and comfort to the reader, thus creating hope within the poem.

Another way hope is portrayed in this poem is by using references to the past and future. When the poet states “I know there’s something better down the road” (22)¹, she is saying that the future will be better than the present, and that we always have something to look forward to. The poet also references the past when she states that “many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges” (25-27)¹. Here she is stating that our ancestors worked hard and gave their life to make the future better for us, as should we for the generations to come. These references to the past and future create hope within the poem by showing that the future will be better and there will always be progress. 

Finally, the poet concludes the poem with a message about love, in which she states “What if the mightiest word is love?” (36)¹. This creates hope in the poem by saying that with love we can make the world a better place.

Works Cited:

¹ Praise Song for the Day (Graywolf Press, 2009)