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candles is what we are,

with our skin, the wax holding its own,

but the miracle is our softness;

the miracle of candles is in our ability to

melt.

let the fire of your worries and demons

catch on the wick inside.

the wick is not there for your happiness.

watch what occurs.

watch the burning.

this burning only happens in the presence.

a voice says, Endure it!

keep burning. keep hurting.

hurt more. a greater joy lies in the heat of the flame

that laughs in its conversation with the wick.

keep burning. keep hurting.

hurt again, hurt more until darkness.

suddenly, a fragrance within smoke---

heat lost, conversation stopped,

this whisking away in the light lost.

sweet release.

sweet freedom.

f o    r     e g  i  v    n   es        s.

:::

sit on the shelf as a piece of ceramic.

stay there and collect dust.

be used, be filled, be poured by others.

be involved in celebrations, intimate wine tastings,
and stand as you are until held and needed again.

keep doing this--if it is what you wish for in life;

whomever molded, shaped, and curved you 

never had that intention.

the pottery master made you to be fragile,

to crack, to break, to create a shattering noise

that reminds others of the joy found

outside of limitations.

:::

the rolling in the babbling of the brooke

is by way of the rocks that moves it.

the roundness in the rocks

is by way of the babbling brooke that smooths them.

these two parts that make the other make one.

that is whole.

that is love.

:::

are you in love?

Well, yes. I am in it all the time.

no, but with someone else?

Absolutely, reflections of me.

you can't be in love with yourself.

Of course you can. If you accept what is always given to you.

look, i want you to tell me, are you in love for someone else?

Sure.

who is it?

Who I need to be or be not.

then who do you need to be or be not?

That depends on love.

what kind of love do you want?

The kind that is.

:::

i am afraid i have stumbled upon a mirror.

one i never looked into,

but a mirror i have a knowing about;

a knowing misunderstood in writing,

but only known of in the moment.