*

*

Wild winter night

the old house creaks and rattles

Outside in the leaking dark

an old woman smiles

*

Wrapped in shabby shawls

carrying a shuddering candle

she seeks a path around the grief

that stabs her groaning heart

*

Keening low and lissome

shadows sigh and sway

a song of the lost and lonely

a song to singular pray

*

She swallows the candle

She swallows the night

She swallows til nothing

is left but the flame.