Wild Hope: Healing Words to Find Light on Dark Days

by Donna Ashworth

Wild Hope is Donna Ashworth's powerful new collection of wisdom to help us find hope, peace, self-acceptance and inspiration on the days we feel worn down, helpless or sad. Written with love and understanding, Donna reminds us that amidst our daily struggles and constant outpourings of bad news we have so much to hope for, and that every one of us can play a part, big or small, in making the world a better place.

With poems such as 'Surrounded by Treasure', 'That Thing You Do', 'Through the Wringer' and 'Rope Ladder', Donna helps us to remember that most people in this world are good, and that acts of kindness and love within our individual spheres of influence, however small, all contribute to a better future. She also gently guides us, no matter how busy or overburdened we may be, to practice better self-care and self-acceptance.

Hope exists when nothing else can. On the darkest of days Wild Hope will help you find more light.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Professional Development, Self Help, Education, Lifestyle, Psychology

320 pages, Hardcover

Published September 26, 2023

Reviews

[Balvinder Sopal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Hope is full of beautifully profound poems that remind you to keep moving. On the days when you don't want to get out from under the duvet, when sleep is your only friend becauae it allows you to switch off, when the tears won't stop - hope - Wild Hope - no matter how small - is there to comfort you. To offer you the biggest and warmest hug, and show you you are hurting now, only because...

... Love Came First.

There are many poems that lift the spirit, but the one that resonated the deepest for me was ...

... "Love Came First."

Not only did the words resound through my whole being, but after I popped it on my SM, my brother (not into poetry) became curious. "Where d' you get that?". I showed him and he leafted through it. He found many poems that spoke to him. "Photo" was one he read out loud. This encouraged him to speak about his feelings a little more and about the loss we were both experiencing. My dad (also not into poetry) found himself reading Wild Hope in his own time and space. He, too, expressed some feelings about some of the poems... they allowed him an outlet to release bottled up emotions in a safe space

Not only my loved ones, but people unknown to me also reached out at "Love Came First." And I received messages from people who shared with me their grief and sadness. Thank you for sharing.

Such is the power of books. They bring people closer together, even if for a split second, and we are all changed by that experience. Such is the power of Wild Hope; it encourages us to put one foot in front of the other, to move with love for each other and the self simply because "Love Came First."

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry isn't something I'd usually pick up but when I was asked if I'd accept a proof of Wild Hope I jumped at the chance. I read Donna's previous collection "To The Women: Words to Live By" during the pandemic and found it so profound, and I absolutely loved this new collection. It is full of inspiration, it is heartfelt, it is inspiring, but most of all jam-packed full of emotion. A couple of the poems had me in tears due to hitting the spot on a personal level, and I've earmarked those pages to return to again and again.

The wonderful thing about a poetry collection such as this is that you can have it sat by the side of your bed and delve in as and when. Donna Ashworth is exquisite with words and if you don't already follow her on Instagram, I highly recommend that you do.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how to rate a book of poetry. This had some powerful, beautiful poems in it, but not all of them touched me. I am so thankful I read it though for the ones that did. I can see myself dipping back into it now and then. And I would definitely recommend it to others.

[Linda Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of writing about the power of hope.

I’m going to be totally honest and say that Wild Hope is by no means the most literary collection of writing you can encounter. Donna Ashworth is no metaphysical John Donne. And that is the absolute beauty of Wild Hope. It is completely accessible, uplifting and supportive. You don’t need to have a higher degree in literary criticism to feel connected to the writing here, to feel as if Donna Ashworth is speaking directly to you and offering hope when at times it may feel completely elusive.

Certainly there are literary techniques in the collection that will satisfy those who enjoy them. The use of italics for emphasis, enjambement to illustrate the passing of time perhaps, or the use of the pronoun ‘you’ to draw in the reader are all present in the writing, but they are secondary, used unselfconsciously as Donna Ashcroft writes completely from the heart. Throughout the collection she conveys hope as a kind of emotional kintsugi that allows the reader to find their own peace and beauty in themselves and in the world around them. This is such a supportive collection.

Whilst much of the writing appealed to me completely (and I do think this is a collection that might resonate with women most) and I could quote from so many pieces to exemplify, one entry in particular stood out in its entirety and that was With Your Knowing – but you’ll have to read Wild Hope to discover it for yourself. Let me just say that it’s a poem I’ve earmarked for my uncertain future.

Wild Hope does exactly what it sets out to do and it does it perfectly. It acknowledges the challenges of life at its darkest moments and helps the reader shine a little light there instead. I thought it was completely lovely.

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comforting, inspiring, hopeful and just what I needed.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to this collection (from Hoopla) narrated by the author in her pleasant Scottish accent. It was so relaxing that I often fell asleep while listening.

[Cynthia Kirchner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donna Ashworth is an incredibly gifted poet. I came across her poems after Jared passed and finally got one of her books. She is able to express such raw emotions in a beautiful and comforting way.

[Rebekah Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a good self-help audiobook but I personally didn’t connect with this one as much as I have others and I found I had it on in the background whilst doing other things and it didn’t really draw me in to want to listen to every word. There were some things I resonated with but then other things I didn’t and I found that it was a lot of talking about topics but not delving too much into them and I was left wanting more. I know it is a collection of poems and they are written well but I was just left wanting more and to delve deeper. I do have the physical copy of this book so I might read it again at some point and see if reading it rather than listening to it changes my view but it just didn’t draw me in and capture my attention as much as previous audiobooks have.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book of poems- such beautiful words. I would agree with the person who describes this book as a warm hug. So wise, so comforting, so inspiring.
At several points I would stop and say to myself- “She knows me. She’s talking to me!” I just love this book.

[Donna Borland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and uplifting book brings you comfort Donna is brilliant author

[beccy clish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have thoroughly enjoyed this. I didn’t realise it was poems and little messages but I’m glad I grabbed it for the car journey to visit my mil in hospital. I got to page 11 and cried because the last sentences just hit me - we have had death and illness over the last couple of months and it’s so true that we take things for granted.

[Nicole Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading this over a number of months because poetry should be read at a slower pace I feel. Donna's poems are beautiful, meaningful, emotive and relevant. Joy Chose You is a personal favourite and I've now read it (or heard it recited on Instagram) maybe 100 times. I find myself photographing a page and sending it to a friend who needs those words at that moment. Wild Hope has inspired me to delve into other poetry books. It's a new love of mine. All the stars for this one.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope is real

I had read snippets by this author in the past and finally got to read one of her books in total. It is a book to read a little at a time...to let settle over you.I will be reading other books by this author.

[ElizabethW · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some lovely poems in this book, it’s very easy to read. Like all collections, not all of them speak to you in the moment but some of them definitely will. One to dip in and out of.

[Grace Hitchman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet poetry book - will definitely come back to dip into the ones I loved.

[Gail Wylde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should should be required grief reading

[Mikaley Zumwalt]

First poetry book I’ve ever read… I liked it a lot. It was nice to read one every day. Beautifully written.

[Lizzie Sowerby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book with inspiring words that enlivened hope in me.

[Lisa Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book, I’ve read this over several months, just reading a poem or two each day. Well worth having in your book shelf to dip into. 😍

[Diana Sampaio · Rating 4 out of 5]

poemas 🤍

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal poems full of encouraging words! You'll come across many poems where you feel the author is speaking directly to you -- it's amazing. Every book from Donna Ashworth is worth owning in your home library!

[Helen Homer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It feels wrong marking this as finished as I don't think I will ever be finished with it! A wonderful collection of thoughts and feelings, I've found them very helpful and hopeful and will continue to pick the book up and dip in again as I need it

[Sarah Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, amazing book, just seems to find the right words at the right time.

[Isabel Fontes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Few voices resonate with such tenderness, authenticity, and courage in contemporary poetry as Donna Ashworth's. In Wild Hope, the author weaves a poetic mantle from the deepest fibres of the human experience—pain, joy, friendship, loss, and, above all, hope. This book is not merely a collection of poems: it is a balm, a silent embrace, a beacon on the greyest days.

Ashworth presents hope not as a vague wish, but as a living, breathing force – stubborn and vital. "Hope," she writes, "is not a passive wish whispered into the night; it's a living, breathing creature that dwells within the heart's chambers, stubborn in its persistence." Every poem in this collection pulses with that energy – that wild, untamed spark that keeps us moving even when everything else feels lost.

Among the most touching pieces is Great Friends. It goes beyond simply celebrating friendship – it elevates it to its rightful place as a pillar of emotional resilience. Donna writes about those friends who hold our hands in the dark, who remind us andr light when iems to have dimmed. "They are the whispers of courage when fear has stolen our voice." In a few, perfectly chosn words, she captures the essence of genuine human connection, and every reader will see in her verses so saved them.

In some poems, she beautifully illustrates that treasures dwell within the simplest gestures, reminding us that kindness quietly flourishes in the world, steadfast and unwavering. More than simply a source of comfort, "Wild Hope" serves as a gentle call to action—not in grand, heroic strokes, but from the nurturing roots of love, empathy, and presence. Throughout the journey of the book, the author invites us to nurture ourselves, look within with compassion, and embrace the truth that even the smallest acts of love and kindness can illuminate the path toward a brighter future.

This is one of those books that isn't read just once. It lives on your bedside table, in your bag, in bag, andommon – and almost magical – experience to open it at random and find a poem that feels written for that moment, that particular sorrow, that quiet hope. As though Ashworth, with her almost supernatural sensitivity, knew precisely what you needed to hear.

Wild Hope is, in short, a precious collection—a companion for the journey. For anyone who has ever felt lost, exhausted, or invisible, Donna's verses are like a rope thrown into the void—steady, trustworthy, capable of pulling us back towards the light. As she gently suggests, let this book live in your life. because even on the darkest days, hope—wild, gentle, and resilient—still blossoms.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really lovely poetry, maxims of life and short quotes to live by. Written for women.

[Kayleigh (BookwormEscapes) · Rating 4 out of 5]

AD/PR - I’m not usually a poetry fan but having had a pretty tough year at times and being a big believer in hope, I was drawn to Donna Ashworth’s Wild Hope. Reading this honestly felt like the best self care, it was so comforting and beautiful with inspiring messages and uplifting sentiments. I firmly believe there are words in this book for everyone and I can’t recommend picking up a copy enough!

I know from the DMs I got that so many people loved the poem I shared on my story about losing a loved one to dementia. That was definitely one of the ones that resonated most with me. It really exemplifies what this collection of poems is all about - finding light on the dark days/times. From self-love to friendship. From parental bonds to illness. From the beauty of nature to the beauty within. I really believe that as long as you have hope you still have everything to live and fight for and this book just reaffirmed that to me. It was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time and it’s one I’ll keep coming back to when I need a little pick me up and some validation!

[Catherine Booknooksandlatte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Social media and media, in general, are flooded today with stories, memes, and articles all about today, the 15th January, being recognised as the most depressing day of the year. I hope your mood isn't being affected mentally by such an ominous "occasion", sometimes life is hard enough without dedicating a day to feeling miserable. Yes, it's the middle Monday in January. The weather is bitter, and there have been awful floods. Many are counting down the days and hours until pay day. Others are dreaming of warmer days in sunny climates. Some are reflecting on how Christmas a time of excesses feels so long ago, and others are struggling with diets, health programs, gym memberships, courses, challenges, and resolutions.

If you are struggling today or more realistically any day or night, then I encourage you to discover @donnaashworthwords books. They are a tonic to the soul and the mind. You don't need to be a literature expert, or Don to grasp, read, and breathe a sigh as you read her poetry as each poem packs a punch per line. They make sense. They describe the feelings of here and now, and her latest collection #hope offers just that! Hope. Light follows hope.

"Put hope in a safe place."
"Don't lose hope. Keep it with your keys. You need it more than you know."

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I'd bring this along on a roadtrip today, as it's something easy to dip in and out of.

What a beautiful collection of inspiring, comforting and hopeful words. There are some poems to keep near always, and others to put to one side ready for when needed.

Truly lovely.

[Ren Morton · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are good poems/stanza to include in cards and such, but they didn’t move me to tears. There was a little too much heaven in some of them. But overall, it was a good volume.