i am no candle:
not a woman of wax and wick,
not a taper or even squat votive.
i will not feign confidence enough
to burn brightly or flicker exquisitely.
i am no candle.  

many times, i have visited
the holy places and watched
flames of hope bring quiet calm,
guiding, brightening, enlightening,
giving safety in shadowed corners.
i ache to be orange and yellow
but remain gray.  

i am no candle  
but Maybe, on the best days,
i can be –  
i am –
a Match:
strike the flint, take the snap, be the starter,
catch fire…
then fade fast.  

and when i am,
look at the candles all around.
see their Light.
they are set, set, set
to burn brilliantly and long
to help our World find
its Way.