Hope is the Thing with Feathers

And sweetest in the gale is heard;

And sore must be the storm

That could abash the little bird

That kept so many warm.

These lines suggest that hope is most comforting and reassuring during the toughest of times. The metaphor of a gale represents the storms of life, and yet hope's song is still sweetest during these difficult times. The idea that the storm must be incredibly strong to silence the little bird of hope emphasizes the resilience and strength of hope in the face of adversity. The use of the word "abash" also suggests that hope is not easily defeated and that it has the power to sustain and comfort many people. These lines emphasize that hope is a powerful force that can uplift and inspire us, even during the most challenging of circumstances.