We Know the Light is There

Candles in daylight – 
Why do we love you?
   Flames scarcely visible,
   A shuddering star
   That might next moment
      Die: we cannot
         Know.
   
When we let the match
Linger long as it kisses
   The lonely wick,
Until suddenly, silently
   A flame is alive
      And dancing,
         Then

We celebrate – that birth,
The simple fact we’re here,
   Sharing time together –
      An English June; sun
   Casting the window shape
      Onto the carpet
         Drowns

Candle’s white flame.
But we made our quiet point,
Didn’t we?  No need to wait for
Darkness, death’s-head darkness
   Before we create the light.
      Our daytime candle
         Flame

   Is light always,
   Life always,
   Our consecration
Invisible, shivering
         There
   On that lonely wick