my white tea candle burns quietly at home upon my TV tray within an etched glass lantern multi-faceted Moravian stars catching an angle’s warm, yellow glow a pinpoint of reflection of sorrows past a window remembering a younger brother passing before me
her mantle is ablaze in its annual tally commemorating her first child born too perfect for this world on yesteryear’s Christmas day
reciprocity’s tradition candles lit as offering for one another a moment to bask in comfort’s connection linking distant kindred spirits’ hearts a sharing of sadness between friends not alone in their grief and memories honoring loss and life and love