The Candle

The candle guttered in the draft, She paused in her thoughts. Life had been good today, She had eaten a little. Gazing out to gather her thoughts, Children cowered in the filthy lanes. They had not eaten in a long time. They scrambled out to the laden cart, Hoping something would fall, it didn't. The men were away in some distant land, The women alone had to make a stand. No money to buy, nothing left but to cry, Trying to survive in this pitiless land, Where once folk danced hand in hand. War came and took men by train and truck, Only to be buried shallow in foreign muck. The candle guttered and she prayed, Hoping his return had just been delayed. © Dave Timperley 18/10/2021