Beware the Wickless Candle

A Hobby Lobby Craft Gone Bad

Beware the wickless candle

A tin can engorged with yellow beads

Flawed from inception

-

The wax catches flame

Independent of the cotton cloth

Truly engulfed is this can

-

Whipping and wooshing, crackling, it pops

An impressive auditory symphony

Intermixed with a live action play of incandescent substance

Firelight dances so beautifully in the room

-

The table blackens underneath, its very hot metal base

Reminisced of burning barrels in trash strewn waterways

Hole ridden gloves pierced by fingertips stretch out to the flames

-

A broken chair leg dives into the threaded mixture of coals and smoke

Heaved in by an old woman on this cold stricken eve

-

The patterns of sparks break forth and trace the stars

-

A shred of tire also takes the plunge

And is transmuted into bubbling black tar, chocking incense

-

In half a moment immolative sails take flight

Quickened eyes rest on the maneuvers of these tiny ships

-

The woman exhales

And the fire breathes

-

While the lightest of rain joins her solace

Droplets steam when they strike the burning rim

-

In the room, where my candle lies

There on a wooden coffee table

I could not have known 

That in the damp cold night many miles from where I sat

This woman stood

And endured

-

I realized the danger

The spiraling flames climbed higher

With great persistence I blew out my candle

-

And the rain, eventually

Blew hers out too

Reviews

[Bhuyanshi Talukdar]

Your poem is a vivid and powerful depiction of the dangers of fire and the way that it can quickly spiral out of control. Your use of language is truly masterful, and I was struck by the way that you create such a rich and complex tapestry of images and ideas. I particularly loved the way that you explore the theme of danger and how it is ever-present in our lives, even in the most mundane of objects like a candle. Your poem is a powerful reminder that we must always be vigilant and aware of the risks that surround us, and that even the smallest of actions can have profound consequences.

[coagulatedfire]

Thank you, that was a kind complement. Honestly, thank you.

[Bhuyanshi Talukdar]

My pleasure 😊 if you have some time, i hope you can stroll around my feed too. I would be grateful!

[coagulatedfire]

You bet! Certainly.