Hope Is
This poem grew out of a creative writing workshop in Wrexham exploring the theme of hope. The workshop formed part of the legacy of Wrexham’s Baton of Hope, and the poem — alongside other works — may be included in the “Bench of Hope” art installation at Pontcysyllte Chapel Tea Room – the first TalkingPoint bench in Wales
Hope is listening —
not because you’re forced to,
but because you want to.
Hope is seeing —
not looking past someone,
but saying: I see you.
Hope is respecting pace.
Giving people time.
Giving people energy.
Understanding what you don’t see.
Hope is putting your feelings aside
and helping someone settle their storm in a teacup.
Hope is giving every person a voice.
Hope is wearing the Wrexham Dragon with pride —
because this community shows up for its own
on the world stage.
Hope is a place people call home.
Sometimes it’s a village on the map.
Sometimes it’s a city finding its confidence.
Sometimes it’s simply the moment someone says,
“You belong here.”
Hope is protecting culture —
because stories save lives.
Hope is not writing and waiting to be published.
Hope is writing and knowing the words already matter.
Hope is believing you are the best version of yourself —
and knowing no one can take that away from you.
Hope is building webs for safety,
so when the rug is pulled,
you don’t land alone in a heap.
Hope is confidence.
Quiet. Steady. Earned.
Hope is here.
And it’s ours.
Featured image by Brian Dillon (Flickr), CC BY 2.0 — cropped from the original.
