HOPE :The Tune Without The Words

I am trying to come up with a solid definition of what hope actually is before I go. These should help.

The Dictionary says:
"Hope (a verb), To want something to happen or to be true and think it could be happen or be true."

The Psalmist says:
"Be strong and take heart, all you who have hope in the Lord."

The poet says:
"Hope is the thing with feathers-
That perches in the soul-
And sings the tune without the words-
And never stops-at all-

And sweetest-in the gale-is heard-
And sore must be the storm-
That could abash the little Bird-
That kept so many warm-

I've heard it in the chilliest land-
And on the strangest Sea-
Yet-never-in extremity-
It asked a crumb of me.

The comedian says:
"Hope is not 'The thing with feathers'. The thing with feathers turns out to be my nephew. I must take him to a specialist in Zurich."