when hope changes form

I didn’t realize how exhausted I was until the river held me

I have been carrying hope
in my pocket like it was 
polished gemstone for years 

whenever trouble came
I’d squeeze hope tightly 
in my shaking hand 

recently though,
I somehow lost my hope

   I have no idea if I put it down
somewhere or if it slipped out
while I was fumbling for my keys 

without being able
to hold onto hope 

I soon became lost myse…