"The Man in the Cottage"

It is quiet here

In the forest, by the stream

When night has fallen.

…

A soft breeze blows, and

A whisper is in the trees

A whisper of hope.

…

The stars glint brightly

Against a blue-silver sky

Silently watching.

…

There is a cottage

Deep in the woods, though not far

Away from this place.

…

A man lives in it

With his wife and their baby

Their first child, a son.

…

They don't have a lot

Though the man works hard, and he's

Doing all he can.

…

He goes out each day

To a job with little pay

Trying to find hope.

…

He tries to believe

That things will get better if

He works hard enough.

…

Sometimes at night he

Sits under the stars and sings

Songs of hope, of praise.

…

I can hear him sing

Until finally, he laughs

And goes back inside.

…

Once I pitied him

Though now I wish I could be

As hopeful as he.

…

July 17, 2005

Author's Note: Just so you know in the 15th line: child is meant to be one syllable. This poem really sort of changed from what I had intended it to be, but I'm not really sure how well it turned out. I haven't written a haiku in quite a while, so hopefully I haven't lost whatever talent I used to have. Reviews are very much appreciated.