You’re not like a gas flame <br />or I would see a point of nothingness <br />at your base <br />That invisible rush of expectancy <br /> <br />No, your whole body devours. <br />The crucified wick stands to attention <br />looks down in awe at your handywork <br /> <br />Impurities which in the wax <br />gave lack of depth in solid shape <br />Now moulten, clear, transparently sheer. <br />encroach the rim, on route to where <br /> <br />To abseil down the virgin shaft <br />First to spoil the un-rippled column. <br />Or race behind another’s track <br />leap-frogging as your molecules mourn to stillness <br /> <br />Or dropp and set upon a child’s hand <br />They watch how quickly you change <br />from lava flow <br />to bathing caps for their fingertips. <br /> <br />Light and warmth and dancing flame <br />Dreamer’s magnet, pulling in <br />The trawler’s nets full of visions <br /> <br />I snuff you to sleep <br />and walk away. <br />As you wave goodnight <br />with your ribbons of smoke.<br /><br />Danny Reynolds<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/022-how-many-poets-does-it-take-to-put-out-a-candle-re-post/
