Candle

• Qiang Li, Grade 9
• Poetry
• 2012

Her pale body rests limply on the creaky hospital bed
Her face is cold and ghostly like the moon
Yet the gleaming white teeth of her contagious smile still illuminate the room
But we all know that she will be dead
At first the flame burned brightly and steadily
Bringing a brilliant light to everything surrounding it
There were hardly any dark times or cold times when it was lit
And when these rare moments occurred, they were disposed of readily
However, then came the day when the bright blue flame flickered
A great tidal wave of sadness invaded, erupting into our lives
Dampening our flame, cutting through our hopes with unrelenting knives
That was when I realized it was us who were truly wicked
I knew all along of the pain she endured
I saw the wax slowly dripping into emerging cracks
The vast pools of tears disguised expertly as wax
Too much was required for her selflessness to be cured
Now we all understand regretfully what she is
Burning herself for the benefit of everyone
Only eventually to have her persistent efforts undone
It was our ungratefulness that extinguished what is
What was a beautiful candle