Yesterday, I walked through halls
crowded with memories that aren’t mine.
Dust fell from rotten frames.
My reflection was lost
in an endless collection
of uneasy smiles
and identical, cold stares—
frozen,
waiting for freedom.
But a few feet away,
the cycle repeats.
Every time we talk,
I wonder who they’re hearing
behind the door
that has been broken,
painted,
but never replaced.
What I found was unfamiliar.
There was a new kind of silence—
the kind that doesn’t expect anything,
doesn’t reach for someone
to break it.
Today, the past is drowned out
by the reassuring glow
of sixteen candles.
With each tired song,
that hallway is built over.
And a path is carved
through what remains,
in hopes of a miracle.
Six candles on your birthday cake
We have many more wishes to make
On this day, let there be endless fun
With days of fairy tales creeping in
Toddler to preschooler to schoolgirl
Let the year ahead be more joyful
You are moving ahead with time
I won't get a chance to go back in time
But I swear, to put my greeting in rhyme
I am sure, now you can read and write
Cheer with rainbow colours so bright
From scratches to sketches, you moved on
To draw the figures of your choice
Oh! Saanvi, it is gala time for us to rejoice.
candles
wax standing tall
a bright light glows shining warmth
dark rooms are filled with a bright light
what a beautiful sight
DISTANT CANDLES *
We are all distant candles-not necessarily by choice
And not necessarily involuntarily- it varies from person
And usually by circumstances although some circumstances
Are of our own making and shaking depending on reason which
Isn’t often treason
We and our life mates are distant candles not knowing
Where our mates are mates are until we find them or
The find us- the answers are out there and perhaps unheeded
Undiscovered and unrealized but we need to do more than reach
Out for who we know not
We distant candles continue to keep our flames going for how long
We know not but some feel as if they should extinguish theirs right away
and don’t want to be swayed- no matter what our views and open thoughts may be
We are distant candles until find the candles for which we long to find- we are distant
Candles until we link
* The Title poem.
“Everyone’s different,” says someone born in May
To the another whose birthday’s in June.
“But we all get a “hip hip hooray!”!”
“Every cake’s different,” say tastebuds to a spoon;
A stable table to some disposable plates
As they hear for the first time the table’s same tune.
“Every bite’s different,” say the plates in turn on the table.
“Every different bite’s bitten to a new beat on the first record
That plays when cake song’s sung and cake placement is stable.
The foreground to “the food of love” is to tape record.
The format of birthdays is repeated, results still differing for
Each year’s wish, released like a parachute pack by a ripcord.
Gary, our gnome lights all of the candles in this church, the priest said
Go about your business, but this is taken care of, added choirboy Ned.
They agreed that Gary would be upset if anyone else did it for sure.
That gnome sneaked in and gave me a look that said “you are manure”.
colourful pansies giggled with rosy cheeks
so like them were you inviting
no innocent flower enticing into bower
wise woman with spell laden books
neatly lined, in an outfit so divine
and in a corner next to oil lamp
beckoned your goddess refined
alive in calling frame gilded solid
come into white linen where
serpentine I will attuned you mine
candles flamed in gentle desire
holy and mundane sweetly attired
scrolls from Lemuria and Atlantis
their musicality danced with breasts
circling black hat as your test
aah, witch, my beloved pitch I long
for that dim room of angelic song
trees peeping in eventide breeze
cedar essences in decanters to
please, blouse loose with ease
let your wand take me into clove light
chequered with autumn leaves so bright
will I but connect to protect white loaves
red-haired apricot mystic witch invites
nipples harden anticipating a short delight
[Honorable Mention: All Poetry Contest: Feb 26
My young self at twenty, bright eyes aglow,
Chasing dreams to move uphill, where streams flow,
Burning midnight candles, with books as guide,
Study twined with sports, a heart open wide,
Helping souls in need, learning from the sage,
Respect for elders, treasured at each stage,
Faith blended with hope, bold strokes on my page.
Tonight we light the candles
When the holiday begins,
As the latkes fry in oil
And the dreidel quickly spins.
We’ll try to block out hatred,
Often aimed to harm or scare
As the world keeps moving onward,
In most cases, unaware.
It’s impossible to fathom
So much loathing and for what?
Yet we’ll watch the candles glowing
And be glad for what we’ve got.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
because the dark was winning once~
the kind that chews the edges
of your breath, the quiet thief
that steals the names of stars~
and someone said enough.
Lit a wick. Poured thin gold
into the hollow of the night.
because the world is cold
and getting colder,
we pile logs until the fire
wrestles shadows to the floor.
because our hands,
empty so long,
remember how to hold.
because the story never ends
with winter. Only with
a door left open,
a child’s laugh
caught like a bell
between the falling snow.
My past was like a red balloon
It inflated yet burst too soon
The air dispersed without a boon
And it echoed my afternoon
My blissful days seemed like a cake
But sweetness became overbaked
The aftertaste could never slake
As moments were just underbaked
Yet days and nights remain my gift
Of life that brings lasting uplift
Even if candles fade and drift
My fire ignites through snowdrift
Though balloons may burst in distress
And cakes may unleash bitterness
My soul with Him dwells in wholeness
And my heart blooms forth in pureness
Meaty meatballs resting on spaghetti
Toasting garlic bread then top with cheese
Indeed the most delightful sight
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
The woman of the house glances at the clock
Sabbath must be ushered in chic-chac*
Friday eve, hers is the lead role for the People of the Book
Sabbath one minute late, the Queen simply will not brook
___________________________________________________
*Transliteration of Hebrew slang for 'right away.'
WATCHING FLICKERING FLAMES-TSF
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
amber
beacon
flickers,
offers
comfort
and hope,
time roams.
I watch
flames leap
candle
takes me
back in
time to
my home.
I hear
echoes,
voices
from past
from those
long since
deceased.
I smell
mother,
her scent
wafting
through time’s
boundless
retreat.
FLICKERING CANDLES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
the flickering candle
stands alone on the table,
a small sentinel of warmth,
its golden glow spilling over its edges.
the air thickens around it;
within its amber light
time slows,
each shadow a memory.
this flickering beacon,
this symbol of hope,
speaks in the language of light
and remembrance.
the flickering candle takes me back in time,
reminding me of evenings spent in laughter,
of the scent of cinnamon and pine, and
the echoes of voices long since passed.
I watch in reverent silence, entranced,
as the flame leaps and sways,
a tiny sun, defying the encroaching dark,
reminding me of all that was, and all that still is—
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