Poetry Puzzle Pieces

H.O.P.E.L.E.S.S

I was once asked,

"What is it like to feel hopeless?"

I smiled at the child who asked me;

I knew she meant no harm-

"It is when a person is sad" I said

"When a person thinks they have made a terrible mistake" I said

That night I turned in bed

A single word stuck in my head

Hopeless

Haunting visions of child-like horror swarmed me.

I could feel those verbal claws claw me.

I'd jumped without a safety net,

Something I would forever regret.

Hopeless

The night dragged on

But  I was still awake

By now their claws had turned to keyboards-

A mishmash of shared photos, liked comments and retweets

Every click of the mouse ruined me.

I did a simple equation to help me sleep.

Hope - less = Hope

Hope

It took me the these years to realise that all I needed to do was remove the 'Less'

And then I would be full.