Friday, February 28, 2020

Poetry Friday, The Humble Candlestick

Candle burning bright





Happy first Friday of Lent.  I chose this poem from 2015 to share today. I hope you like it. Also, if you have a lenten practice, you might want to check out yesterday's post, which offers a prayer from the Celtic tradition.


Behold the humble candlestick
It bravely offers up its wick
To host the fire’s hungry lick

Then waning, shines on through the night
The victim of a dancing sprite
Aglow with endless appetite

As one they dance and ebb toward dawn
Til a sputtering, guttering, bottomless yawn
Proves sprite and candle both are gone

What morrow for the candlestick
That quietly offers up its wick?
Yet it shines a light! That’s no mean trick.

- Karen Eastlund

Image result for image candle burning

It's Poetry Friday, gathering today at Karen Edmisten's blog. You can find it here.  Karen has a poem about February's extra day. You won't want to miss it!


Keep your lamps trimmed and burning...

Posted by at
Labels:

11 comments:

  1. author amokFebruary 28, 2020 at 12:46 PM

    I love this descriptions, "a sputtering, guttering, bottomless yawn." Thank you for this poem to light our way to spring.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Karen EastlundFebruary 28, 2020 at 12:48 PM

    Thank you, AA!

    ReplyDelete
  3. jamaFebruary 28, 2020 at 2:08 PM

    So lovely, Karen!! Might be my favorite of all your poems I've had the pleasure to read so far. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Karen EastlundFebruary 28, 2020 at 3:45 PM

    Thanks very much, Jama!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Tim KulpFebruary 28, 2020 at 7:58 PM

    Thank you for sharing this Karen! I enjoyed the poem. The rhythm of the poem is really nice and takes you through the dance of candle and flame until both are gone. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Linda BFebruary 28, 2020 at 10:01 PM

    Oh, this is great, Karen. I love "That quietly offers up its wick?" I'm reading a long and dense book about the night & the people and their lives. Candles were mostly for the rich, and one was not to be burning many even in their homes. I smile to imagine one of them from the 1600s enjoying this poem!

    ReplyDelete
  7. KatApel - katswhiskers.wordpress.comFebruary 29, 2020 at 12:28 AM

    What a wonder-filled poem, Karen. I too am taken with it quietly offering up its wick - and that dancing sprite!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Michelle Heidenrich BarnesMarch 1, 2020 at 1:34 PM

    Beautiful Karen! That first stanza could even stand alone, it's so powerful.

    ReplyDelete
  9. TaraMarch 1, 2020 at 1:57 PM

    Gorgeous poem, Karen!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Karen Edmisten March 1, 2020 at 4:02 PM

    Ah, the humble candlestick. Lovely, Karen !

    ReplyDelete
  11. Buffy SilvermanMarch 2, 2020 at 10:18 PM

    Lovely--and so much fun to say sputtering, guttering, bottomless yawn.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)