Candlelit

The match scrapes across the box
Setting wood aflame
A candlewick sputters awake
yawns, stretches, and begins to blaze

I stare at the candle and think
Face shrouded by my hoodie
The candle flame burns through today
Ashes of a long, hopeless day

Heat gently slides over my mask
tugs at the edges, melting through
Mask dripping down my face
tears start to trickle through

A blast of wind quenches the light
I am revealed as a mere soul
Unmasked, cold, and exposed
Alone, and enveloped in darkness

- Obscure
© 2020