Votive Offering

 

the flame was bright

it danced in the dark

the wax dribbled down

the sides of the candle

and hardened

on the slate table

we peeled it off

and placed it

in a pewter bowl

flakes of candle wax

 

we lit another candle

it was red

the wick was long

and the flare

from the flame

shone just as bright

as the candle

we had lit

the previous night

dribbling wax

 

night after night

lit until death

and then the wax

scraped and

collected

accumulating

like memories

settling

among

the flakes

 

when the bowl was full

we heated it’s contents

over a weak flame

until they melted

then we poured

the molten liquid

into a candle mold

and let the rainbow wax

set around a new wick

at it’s heart

 

then we lit

this new candle

for you

let the memories

burn bright

inhaled the incense

from the catholic church

and whispered

to the silence

“goodnight”