Wednesday 6 March 2013

The Candle-Seller





She sells candles to light a house of god
and I buy a few even though I am faithless
my motives rarely stand up well if probed
to cadge a benefit from somewhere, I guess
maybe her piety will somehow rub off
if there’s a just god, he’ll become easier to address
lighting a flame in there will do the job
and inch me closer, get me some access
or maybe it’s all simpler than I thought
there’s no cause for nonstop fuss and obsess
maybe she reminds me of someone I’ve lost
maybe she and her candle are the goddess.









Shared for OLN @dVerse














 

18 comments:

  1. Oh, my goodness, I love this! I have felt like this many times. All this month, I'm writing about my very tangled relationship with religious faith, so this really hit home. I love your use of form and rhyme as well.

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    1. Thank you, lots of tangles to straighten out there.

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  2. maybe they are...or are a small piece you know...while i dont buy into ritual for ritual sake i do believe in a connectedness in all of us...regardless our religeous stances...and candles def make me think of rememberances...

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    1. That's one of the basic tenets of Hindu philosophy - the interconnectedness of the universe...def believe in that...not particularly fond of rituals, but revere them for their sense of history...something that's been done for 1500 years becomes valued just from repetition somehow..thanks for being here.

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  3. I really like this poem. Honest. Thought-provoking. Ya, maybe there is something to lighting candles, and maybe something will rub off. It can't hurt is what I always figure. And, yes, she could be the goddess!

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    1. Poetry here is rarely autobiographical, but this one is, kind of. She was a 70+ year old lady, she should have been home being taken care of by her family/community/state, but she was selling candles in the rain. Definitely a goddess imho. Thank you for reading.

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  4. wonderful..sometimes u need no reason to love or admire, t say the least..reminds of kashmir ki kali...:)

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    1. That's certainly true...loved the possible connection to Kashmir ki Kali (haven't watched it tho!) thanks for reading :)

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  5. I like the ritual and meaning of lighting up the candles ~ I never understood its significance, until I had to light up a candle to bless my new home and during Christmas ~ I specially like the last two lines, there's wisdom in that faith ~

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    1. Something very evocative about a flame..thanks for reading.

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  6. Such a wonderful expression of a blend of doubt and oh-so-subtle hope. I love what you did with this.

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  7. Whatever the motive, the act of doing it must count for something...

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    1. Certainly hope so...with most motives..thanks.

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  8. this is just an awesome sentiment. i can absolutely relate. nice use of rhyme, too.

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