Hope dies last when man's life must be extinguished.
His love and truth work hard to be distinguished
amidst hate, greed, doubt and fear that persist
to make his mind question why he exists.
still his sense of purpose is established
like a king whose goals must be accomplished
like dry black soil that rain and green crops replenished.
love comes first. Yet if all virtues be extinct,
hope dies last.
Man wishes that war-torn Earth be refurbished,
his sin-stained temple cleansed and refurnished,
for with time he's attached to Earth through instinct,
though he dreams of Heaven that's eternal and distant;
and attached to life now to be relinquished,
hope dies last.