the emotive votive

sits there flickering with

immense fragrance,

light dancing amongst the

warmth of the “holidays”,

be them pine to fill the room

like a forest, be them apple &

cinnamon to announce that

fabulous fabulous Fall is here---

be them melon scents in the

Spring/Summer or berries in

Winter, whatever your liking,

they simply coax a comfortable

notion,

a way to enhance a family affair

&

they also are there for Satanic

cults, who want to create an

ambiance for their sacrifices to

the “devil”---their own personal

imaginary friend to believe in---

they glow on the alters of

churches, temples & mosques,

all for the worship of a cavalcade

of lies, delusions & imaginary friends

of all shapes & sizes

&

let’s not forget the way they illuminate

the lovemaking of the early morning

when the candles paint the shadow

portrait on the walls & the ceilings

of two lovers rolling in the hay,

let’s not forget the “fortune tellers”

who use them to woo morons out of

their hard earned dollars,

flavoring the air round that precious

crystal ball, in order to make it appear

more than it is---

so many ways these little candles can

echo our human impulses that it

takes one back to those very first flames

brought on by the friction of two stones

or perhaps lightning striking,

whatever the culprit be, the flickering

votive accomplishes its goal.