a small town
candle lights till twelve o'clock
the yellow sparks mirrored in the night silk
a spray of butter and milk
the lights are the known
the sky unknown
they both seem so familiar
when the heavens are clear
some candle lights keep flickering
the ones on my porch did
mother tried to keep the lights alive
for she wanted to kill them herself at midnight
after the last one she used say,
"count the little victories"
and kiss me on the cheek
but I used to wonder,
just like my lights, are my stars also weak?
