Two candles.
Two candlesticks.
One, a dull green sea-floor bottle,
a scuba-diving find,
The candle of freedom.
The other of mellow olive wood,
carved, gracious, twisted, spiral,
bought in Bethlehem,
the candle of faith.
The candle of freedom wouldn't light tonight.
Many attempts, several matches, one result.
It lit, though, from the candle of faith.
A message?
A squashed wick?
Or both?
Who knows?
The two candles shine beside me now
together
as these words I write.
Each gives light.
Philipos
Mon 11th Apr 2011 19:50
Great juxtoposition Dave and you bring them both to life with your imagery - well done
A lovely poem Dave. I like it for its simplicity as well as its rich symbolism. I suppose it could be taken on many levels - not just religious - faith being in the same family as hope.
love it, dave in particular the ending..
<Deleted User> (7212)
Sun 10th Apr 2011 16:08
there's nothing worse than a squashed wick.
Four candles indeed !!
Dave, this is charming,very thought-provoking in intent. The language is imaginative, lyrical and musical, like 'dull, green, sea-floor bottle'. And the associative ideas of the holders is striking. The last stanza is an insightful summary of your theme. These allegorical 'candles' take their identification from their precise 'holders'. Do the candles themselves not exist separate from their holders - to light or not to light with applied 'fire'. What if they were held in a human hand, like a torch?
Hi Dave - I think I like this best out of all your poems. I feel as if I can see those candlesticks. (And I won't mention the Four Candles sketch, good though it was!)
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Chris Co
Fri 20th May 2011 20:21
Thought provoking in the narrow and particularly the broader sense.
Chris