Now that June is almost over, I decided it would be a good idea to post my response to the Inklings June prompt. Mary Lee challenged us to “use a recent comment on one of your posts as a line in a poem.” I chose a comment from Mary Lee herself. She reminded me that “hope will win” after reading my Ars Poetica poem in April.
Hope Will Win
There are days when it’s hard to believe.
The news is full of doom and gloom,
and it seems like the worst of us
will overcome the best of us.
But there are other days
full of promising signs.
People of all walks of life
flock to a museum
on a sunny Tuesday afternoon
to gaze in wonder
at 500 year old paintings.
The crowds part, and suddenly
the gossamer scrim of centuries
falls away
to reveal a face so fresh and perfect,
she takes your breath away.
Or later, in a packed auditorium
an author tells everyone
that people truly are kind,
and it’s your responsibility
to be kind in return.
Then, as if we needed more proof,
the roses begin to bloom,
right on cue.
Draft © Catherine Flynn, 2025
Please be sure to visit Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect for the Poetry Friday Round Up.
Reading to the Core 
I love the hope in this poem. There is goodness and beauty if we look for it. I so love this line: the gossamer scrim of centuries
Bravo!
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Beautiful, Catherine. I love time in a museum to wander among works of art. I’m wishing you a summer full of roses. xo
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Your poem shows our lives right now, Catherine, holding on, fighting back, looking (and finding) the threads that will keep us hopeful! It’s the loveliest ending!
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the gossamer scrim of centuries
What a perfect line, Catherine. Yes, museums = hope, as do authors, and kindness, and roses. Thank you for this loveliness today!
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Hope and art and roses! Love! I want to spend some more time with the Pink sketchbook. Thank you. xo
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When I read poetry, I can believe hope will win. Your description of the awe of art and the roses blooming give me hope. Thanks for catching up. I still haven’t written to that challenge.
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Yes! Hope and poetry will prevail! So grateful to have this community to inspire and keep the hope alive! Thank you, Catherine!
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Your poem pairs perfectly with Michelle’s!
Thanks for the honor of using my comment in your poem!
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This poem feels like a breath of fresh air. I just sighed when I got to the end. Yes. Thank you for this beautiful reminder.
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This is lovely. And thank you — we all need this reminder!
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