15 Prompts for Hope Poems to Help You See the Silver Lining

Hope poems remind us that light can be found in the darkest moments. Here, we leave you with 15 prompts to write a piece that inspires and uplifts you. At the AVBOB Poetry Project, we understand that poetry helps us express what usually goes unsaid, and we encourage you to write something today to say what you really feel.

Why Hope Poems Are So Meaningful to Us

Hope poems are cathartic to write and comforting to read, because they remind us we are not alone in our struggles. For many, hope is found in love, faith, nature, or even simple everyday delights that lift the spirit. If you’re writing poetry for yourself or someone else, these 15 prompts will help you turn your sentiment into a gift of inspiration and healing.

1. A Future Message: Imagine your future self writing to you today. What do they say to reassure you? What struggles have you overcome? What joys await that you cannot yet see?
   
   
2. Love that Keeps You Standing: Love from a partner, friend, family member, or even yourself can be a strong source of hope. Write about a love that held you up in difficult times and what it meant to you.
   
   
3. Tomorrow’s Dreams: Hope poems are often inspired by our aspirations for the future. Write a poem about the future you long for, the things you want to achieve, or a simple wish that keeps you going.
   
   
4. A Stranger’s Act of Kindness: Sometimes, hope is as simple as a kind word from a stranger or a helping hand when needed. Write about a time when someone you didn’t know restored your faith in people and then carry that faith forward by doing a random act of kindness for someone else too.
   
   
5. If Hope Were a Person: What would hope look like if it walked into a room? Would it be quiet, loud, gentle, or fierce? Describe hope as if it were someone you have just met.
   
   
6. New Beginnings: Change is never easy, but there’s power in taking the first step. Write some hope poems about the moment someone (or yourself) begins again. It could be about moving forward after a loss, starting a new chapter, or trying something different.
   
   
7. Places You Want to Visit: Use hope poems to describe locations where you’ve always wanted to travel, what they represent to you, and how you’ll feel when you get there.
   
   
8. Darkness Before Dawn: Night can feel endless, but dawn always arrives. Write about the last moments of darkness before the light returns and how it feels to finally see the warm sun again.
   
   
9. Things That Symbolise Hope for You: Hope looks different for everyone. You can list things that remind you of how it feels to you, like a rainbow after the rain or an embrace from someone you love.
   
   
10. Hope in Something Bigger than Yourself: For many, hope is found in faith, spirituality, or the belief that life has a greater purpose. If you hold such beliefs, write about the comfort of trusting in something beyond what you can see.
    
    
11. The First Time You Felt Free: Write about a moment when you felt truly free. Maybe it’s when you first felt at peace with yourself, let go of a burden, or made a brave decision.
    
    
12. Love You Have Yet to Find: There is love in your future that you haven’t met yet. Write a poem about the friendships, romances, or self-acceptance waiting for you in your happy years ahead.
    
    
13. The Small Victory: Not all victories are big. Even getting out of bed on a difficult day is something to celebrate. You can pen some verses about a tiny win that gave you strength today.
    
    
14. Things That Feel Like Home: Home isn’t always a place; sometimes, it feels like a person, a scent, or a song. Think about the things that comfort you and remind you that you belong.
    
    
15. The Moment You Knew You’re Healing: Healing doesn’t happen all at once, but there’s always a moment, and sometimes it’s small, when you realise you’re not hurting as much as before. Write about the day you felt hope returning.
    
    

Hope is woven into so many poems, and in the AVBOB Poetry Project library, you will find hope poems and verses on love and new beginnings too! The words you need might already be waiting for you, so be sure to read a few today.