Beneath flashing string of neon lights
Lining the top of wall and ceiling
Of my room with a window of town sights,
I dance to trance music so freeing.
Beneath me on a table a glowing candle,
As I gently twirl around my room,
I begin to grab something to handle,
Loudly singing while holding my broom.
Beneath me on a shelf is a speaker
Loudly broadcasting trance radio.
I dance until I feel so much weaker,
While I imagine every party scenario.
Beneath me is a carpeted floor,
In which I dance barefoot,
Music blaring through the door,
As I fall and spill all of the ash tray's soot.
My Love In Candlelight (c) by Russ Dodson 1963, 1985, 2025
The burning candle flickers low
and in the dancing, darting flame
I see your face and now I know
what longing is, I call your name.
I know you hear but you won't heed
my plaintive cry and all the while
my heart cries out it's greatest need,
you do not speak, you only smile.
This isn't real, it can't be true.
You're with him in some other place!
Yet still I feel your presence near,
and still I see your lovely face.
Again I say you can't be here!
I knock the candle to the floor,
but still within the fluttering flame
I see your face, just as before.
Then the candle, flickers, dying,
as it sheds a waxen tear,
can it be that you are crying,
as if afraid the end is near?
The candle now gives up the fight,
the feeble flame begins to wane
and then goes out, and I was right,
for in the dark you're gone again.
JOY BY THE CANDLELIGHT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inside walls where shadows dance bright,
Lived Max the mouse, heart full of light.
By the soft candle's glow,
He would shiver, you know,
As he warmed his tiny paws through the night.
In the glow of the moon, Max felt bold,
With stories of cheese to be told.
He laughed with delight,
In the soft, golden candlelight,
As sweet dreams of bountiful feasts did unfold.
Candlelight and Romance
Suddenly, Portugal was flung into darkness
electricity stopped, and nothing functioned
anymore, credit cards were useless
and those types of cards were the norm as
people carried little cash in their wallets
the day was wounded, walked unsteadily
towards evening, few had thought of
buying candles, the town of Cascais was
fearful and quiet
Having lived for many years in the outer
corners of the countryside where the supply
often failed, was prepared, we had candles
and means to light them
The evening was quite romantic; we sat on
the sofa held hands, telling stories from
our youth, it was almost a disappointment
came back on, the hours of darkness had
brought us closer together
Candle tongue stirs the skin within my skin,
Glass red with so many tears —
Romance personified by the melting of wick,
Though shadows drone on walls, a phantasmic tango
These French lips worth reading —
Inside heart highs and lows
Timing
Glimpsing
Stealing
Candle tongue stirs the skin within my skin —
These French lips worth reading,
Stealing
a summer fragrance floats drifting about
while a moon hangs low with a sullen pout
to secrets whispered in delight
AP: 2nd place 2025
Flames flickered as the candle’s light
Touched the chilling breath of night
Shadows danced around with no sound
Bottle of ink filled with nightshade
Sleeps under the moonlight
A quill soft as a dream is held by a figure half immersed in darkness
Waiting for the elixir of thoughts
As the clock struck twelve
With great haste the figure dips the
quill in the nightshade
And jotted something on a piece of paper
Under the candle’s light words are born out
Oh! Candle tell me how many people have
written history under your might
Honorable Mention in:
Your Choice J Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand
Lighting the candle
To step forward with luster
To reduce the darkness
Passing over blindness
Like the night fireflies
Long scouting in the sky
A trip to the moonless land
A queue of blinking light bands
Dim candles glow,
Help prevent missteps,
Guide the way with pep,
To achieve the intended goal.
Helpful candlelight
Since the wick was lit
Flip-flops in the velvet wind
Yet it firmly illuminates within
SITTING IN A QUIET LAKEFRONT PARK
LOOKING AT PICTURES OF MY MOTHER IN THE DARK
THE ILLUMINATION OF VIVID MEMORIES CREATE A SPARK
A TRUE HISTORICAL MILESTONE EXCURSION LANDMARK
SHEDDING A RARE TEAR, BUT CALMLY SANE
LOOKING AT PICTURES OF MY DAD AS IT BEGINS TO RAIN
WISHES AND REGRET CAN CAUSE SUCH IMMEASURABLE PAIN
I GET SHEDDING SNAKESKIN HANDS TRYING TO WIPE AWAY EVERY STAIN
DRIVING BACK TO A REALITY LONG SINCE RUSTED
THINKING ABOUT HAPPIER TIMES WHEN I WAS LESS DISGUSTED
MY LIFE IS BLUE BALLOON WITH AN INGROWN BOIL DOUBLE BUSTED
SO LITTLE REPLY AND REACTION HAS ALL THE FUSS DID
The gentle glow of candlelight
A glass of champagne to uplift my spirit
The hypnotic strains of Mozart in the background
Moonlight streaming through the open window
A soft breeze caressing my skin
Transport me to a romantic mood
When sweet poetry flows through my pen..
Deep storm turns off lights
not going to spoil my reading
by candlelight it is
Sit with me by candlelight
Outside it's a cold, dark night
My afghan's here to keep us warm
In case there comes a big snowstorm
A fire in the fireplace
Slow burn, shadows on our face
Up against the wall you'll see
A silhouette of you and me
Your beauty sparkles like the flame of this candle
(Using the can heat as a candle)
Written: September 02, 2023
________________________________________________________________
Flickering body
Breath fuels the flame of life~
Mind's traffic glows bright
Minds' discipline gleams
Sparks of credo ignite thoughts~
Silent glow guides us
Journey within starts
Introspection sparks fairness~
Wisdom blooms with time
Inward strength prevails
Perseverance guides the way~
Wisdom's path unfolds
Dance your soul into a candlelight moment where the flame is bright
waltz to the music of your heart inside the center of this golden room.
Swiveling confetti floating down upon your shimmering astral self,
enjoy these heavenly notes of love, for they are coming from above...
A Candlelight moment on the heart, is what it is, my dear soulful one
step by step you are invited in, to join the Universal energetic sphere
Bound onto heaven's palatial perfect place, of happiness and joy
swivel into orbit and meet the stars, the moon and planets too
Turn away from worries of this world and enter the jovial freedom
of soaring way above yourself, into a place of solitude and contentment.
Join the magic of the sky and swing onto a branch of heaven's garden
live in the moment of breath and take each one slowly each intake counts
when you are meditating.
Open your heart and enter the cradle of your peaceful place
thanks the God's and Goddesses of heaven, for all that they bring
in this great moment of peace, its a candlelight moment on the heart.
Related Poems