ILUSIÓN AND EMILY DICKINSON

 

I have heard many repeat the Spanish saying "The ilusión también se vive" which I have in my Phraseological Dictionary as have pipe dreams, hope springs eternal (in the human breast), which satisfies me not. Somehow I am reminded of Emily Dickinson and her "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul..." and I think she means "ilusión" and not "esperanza", because "ilusión" carries with it not only hope but the eager expectation of a happy occurrence. "Ilusión", in Castillian, is truly that thing with feathers that perches in our soul and motivates us to carry on, dream, plan, and be cheerful and joyful. No less. Why these lines? Probably because lately, I feel I have lost not hope, but "ilusión" - that eager expectation of something joyful to come. I would change the saying above to "sin ilusión no se vive."