Candle

He kissed her lips softly

Gently wiped her tears away

Smiled and said, "I'll miss you,

but I'll be back again someday.

as soon as this crazy war is over,

and the world is set free,

We'll make a world of our own.

The two of us, you and me."

"Please be careful, my darling,"

she whispered forcing a smile.

"Bring yourself back to me,

hopefully in a little while.

And I'll keep a candle burning,

every night and every day.

A beacon light of my love.

To help you find your way."

And just as she promised she would

She kept a candle burning

Waiting for him to return

Watching as life's pages kept turning

And every day she changed it

So he would always clearly see

The way back into her arms

To the love that will always be

Then one night as she lay sleeping

Dreaming of things she hoped would be

A sudden darkness came from nowhere

Like a fog setting over the sea

She awoke to feel a presence

Something passed along side her bed

She turned to see the candle flicker

A second later, the flame was dead

A chill swept over her body

Seemed to take her breath away

And for the first time since he left

Her thoughts began to go astray

All of a sudden things came together

She realized what had come to be

The candle was no longer needed

For he could no longer see

Tears streamed down her face

As she knew she was really alone

The war had taken him from her

He was never again coming home

Her emotions finally exploded

As she fell, crying, on the bed

Could this world really be so cruel?

Was it true that he was dead?

And like so many, many others

The women widowed by the war

She spent the days in grieving

Sadness like she had never known before

Life would be hard without him

But still it had to go on

For you have to go on living

Even though who you loved is gone

Now and then she still dreams of him

And the things he would write

How he missed her and loved her

Thought of her day and night

And sometimes she hears him

His voice so soft, sweet, and low

Saying, "Honey, I've come home.

Never again will I have to go."

One time it was so real

That she awoke from her dreams

To find that in the darkness

A candle flickered, or so it seemed

Then once again she felt a presence

But it was not like before

She heard footsteps in the hallway

Someone opened the bedroom door

She turned to see a figure enter

Then turn and gently close the door

And suddenly she was very frightened

A fear like she had never known before

Then, if but for a second

The room was alive with light

She saw his face, knew inside

That everything would be all right

He walked across the bedroom

And sat on the edge of the bed

Smiled and said, "I missed you."

"I missed you too," she said

No more words were spoken

As they held each other tight

The candle flickered and once again

The room was without light

© January 21, 1984