9. votive candle

Darkness flickers around the flame

but gives no definition,

its uncreation

fails to secrete it

under its cloak.

The bite of cold

cannot swallow it

and its gentle whisping

prayers the ambience

with a caress.

illuminant

Where timeless
praise entertains days
and love-filled lives
bloom and never fade,
where warmth and comfort
clothe and keep
and fellowship spreads
like an Autumn blanket of gold.
Where you and I and us and them
are one in wonder,
won in joy
and all, it seems,
is illuminescent light.
Where no shade or shadow
hides ambushing, hateful, hurts
nor greed nor pride
need constant feed.
Where all imagination's tides
fall short of reality
and ‘You are’ becomes ‘I AM’,
the passing curtain lifted
reveals worship unconfined.

Let's all raise our candle
and celebrate light
a flickering festival
of hopefilled delight.
Tiny flames joining
together as one,
a lighthouse lantern
illuminant Son.

Advent Candle #3

The Third Candle (The Candle of Joy)

Advent candle #3

Heaven’s voice is ringing early

its seasonal chorale

cascading through the well shopped streets

with the waterfall of glory.

And the tills sing out their victory

as the bankrupt bleed

on the battleground of greed.

Yet joy is to be found

in shopping mall and marketplace

when quiet voices

with shepherds’ hearts

respond to heaven’s greater tone.