The Flicker of Light (Defined)

Eight nights.

Eight “natural agents that stimulate sight and make things visible.”

$2 twinkle strands around an old wash stand

Bright

Reddened gold.

Hannukah menorah melting with last year’s party gift

Gleaming

Watercolored orange.

Warmth of a burn pile built on a summer storms’ kindle

Dazzled glow

Spitting white.

Winter sun’s mirror on a scrubbed kitchen floor

Radiant blaze.

Fractured.

Dog’s eye at sunrise distilled in frozen breath

All nights.

All “expressions in someone's eyes indicating a particular emotion or mood, opinions, standards and abilities or understandings of a problem.”

Turmeric rub wrapped around winter squash

Talent.

Skill.

Glints of silver capped tomato tinted glass

Ability.

Expert.

Cell phone vibration echoing across the sea

Point of view.

Context.

The almost laugh and birthday candle smirk set to blow the candles out

Illumination.

Knowledge.

A child’s weightless voice forming the letters of my name

Understanding.

Enlightenment.

The spark described.

The flame defined.

Eight nights,

Let us all pause,

To count each flicker of light.

All nights,

Let us not fear our close breath,

To whisper candles dark.