The Taper

I lit a white taper
Placing it on the mantle.
It has a twin
Somewhere.

Two small flickers
Are all that remain
Of a fierce flame
That once raged
Unmanaged
Uncontrolled
Unending.

It’s like a coal fire
Deep in the earth
Having few ports
To vent heat.
That kind of
Fire will burn
Forever.

I sit back
In early evening
Shadows
In fading light
Content knowing
The darker the room
The more brilliant
Is
Even
A
Very
Small
Flame.