the emotive votive

sits there flickering with
immense fragrance,
light dancing amongst the
warmth of the “holidays”,
be them pine to fill the room
like a forest, be them apple &
cinnamon to announce that
fabulous fabulous Fall is here---
be them melon scents in the
Spring/Summer or berries in
Winter, whatever your liking,
they simply coax a comfortable
notion,
a way to enhance a family affair
&
they also are there for Satanic
cults, who want to create an
ambiance for their sacrifices to
the “devil”---their own personal
imaginary friend to believe in---
they glow on the alters of
churches, temples & mosques,
all for the worship of a cavalcade
of lies, delusions & imaginary friends
of all shapes & sizes
&
let’s not forget the way they illuminate
the lovemaking of the early morning
when the candles paint the shadow
portrait on the walls & the ceilings
of two lovers rolling in the hay,
let’s not forget the “fortune tellers”
who use them to woo morons out of
their hard earned dollars,
flavoring the air round that precious
crystal ball, in order to make it appear
more than it is---
so many ways these little candles can
echo our human impulses that it
takes one back to those very first flames
brought on by the friction of two stones
or perhaps lightning striking,
whatever the culprit be, the flickering
votive accomplishes its goal.