Hold on to any dream you have,

even if what you carry it in

is corroded, oxidised and tarnished

beyond recognition

for even rusty buckets

held at a peculiar angle

can still carry water.

It might not be clean,

it perhaps won’t be seen as glimmering

or potent or even full,

the handle on its last hinge,

but the bucket does not know this,

all it feels is that in a small,

underlying physical way

that it is helping to dampen

the raging fire before it overwhelms

and in times of desperation

can at least carry

the horse manure out

of sight.

Ian D. Hall 2016