Lawrence Hall
Mhall46184@aol.com
https://hellopoetry.com/lawrence-hall/
poeticdrivel.blogspot.com

                                     In Praise of a Candle

                           These are thy gifts; they are good

             -Saint Augustine, City of God, Book 15, Chapter 22

A votive candle is good, and prayers are good
And those for whom the candle is lit are good
Especially when they feel they are not good
Because they are His gifts, and they are good

When we light a candle for someone else
We light it for ourselves, all without knowing
In the workings of the Ekonomia
Because we are His gifts, and we are good

In spite of ourselves – we must accept it
As the little candle shines on through the night