"Hope" Poem by Lewis Latimer
Lewis H. Latimer, best known for his contributions to electrical engineering and invention, was also a poet and writer. His writings often conveyed themes of resilience, optimism, and personal growth, mirroring his own journey as an African American innovator during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This piece, likely published in a newspaper or magazine, showcases his belief in self-improvement and the power of hope.
Latimer Family Papers (1870-1996 ) [QPL Full Collection]
HOPE By L. H. LATIMER "The two fortresses which are the last to yield in the human heart, are hope and pride." "Hope springs eternal in the human breast," and is as necessary to life as the act of breathing. For who would live, if life held no allurements? There must be vistas lying out beyond, that promise more than present conditions yield. Tomorrow may be fair, however stormy the sky of today. Some blessings have been ours in the past, and these may be repeated or even multiplied. We create our future, by well improving present opportunities; however few and small they be. Habit is a powerful means of advancement, and the habit of eternal vigilance and diligence, rarely fails to bring a substantial reward. Add to this the pride of achievement; the desire to rank among the successful souls of earth, and we have the factors which have brought some of the ablest of human beings into the limelight that revealed them to an admiring world, as leaders and examples.