The White Dress - Time

• Lucy Howard, Grade 8, Brisbane State High School
• Poetry
• 2019

Finalist in the 'Just Keep Writing 2019' competition

The darkness was adopted by the dancing flame,
it smirking, beholding light.
Wax cascading down the candle’s bodice,
puddling at the bottom, a white dress.
She shrinks smaller and smaller, standing naive,
unsuspecting of the cruel flame.
The bottom of her dress trails behind her,
woven intricately into a differing design.
Drowning in white gown, she chooses to ignore.
Once a tall and vain candle, now a stump swamped in wax.
The flame sneers, the candle’s helplessness amusing.
The flame’s doing. The flame’s taunt.
It flickers then goes out, leaving a trail of smoke,
The candle gone.
Forever with its flame.
Darkness.