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Candlelight Procession

By candles lit to mark the year
your birthday comes to let you know
your final one is drawing near.

As birthdays' shadows longer grow
they set the tone for mounting fear –
like tension in a horror show.

Now others 'round you gather here
like ravens or some patient crow,
and caw at you with ghoulish cheer.

Their eyes agleam in candles' glow,
they chant the birthday song you hear
and laugh to see you aging so.

The annual, “Happy Birthday, dear...”
that's followed by the breath you blow
should ring ironic in your ear.

The numbers of the candles grow
as birthdays one by one appear
until at last they lay you low.

One final time all gather near
to see you lit by candle glow,
to sing a dirge you’ll never hear.

The candles line up row on row –
on birthday cakes, by funeral bier –
to light your passing here below.

A contest entry

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Comments

1 - 8 of 8

  • NitroCircus
    August 6
    Edit | Reply
    excellent poem. Written very well. thank you for sharing.

  • ecrivain01
    July 30

    Edit | Reply

    Excellent poem ...

    and very well done. Reminds me a bit of Di's poem that I just read again the other day. "Too soon they bring the candles and the shroud" ...

    Anyway, good job.


  • Death of the Author
    November 28, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    Someone said to me there should be a quota on how much talent someone is allowed to have. I feel the comment was slightly misplaced on my poetry, so I think it is much more fitting to leave it here.

    Bloody good is all I can say.


  • cricketjeff gold member
    September 21, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    Terza Rima and so well done
    Delightful entry from one of our favourite "new" finds, great stuff!

    Sue and I the want to thank you for your participation in this contest and both series of challenges we have run. There will be new contests coming, so please watch out for them.
    All the best and thanks again,

    Jeff and Sue

  • ecrivain01
    September 18, 2008
    Edit | Reply

    Now this ...

    is a great write. I'd say it ranks as one of the best poems you've written (or at least the best of those I've read, which is a fair number by this point in time.)


  • Darkwell
    September 13, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    Wow this piece drips with disdain for aging no matter how many birthdays you get just dont forget chokolat cake and youll be ok

    as usual you poem flows so perfectly and the words just are like phenominal. i had to look up dirge so thanx i learned a new word

    Beautifully written as always


    • Peripatetic gold member
      September 13, 2008
      Edit | Reply
      This is known as gallows humor, referring to the joking comments of the condemned to the ax-man or the hangman. We shall all die young or grow old and die, so we might as well have a little fun with it. If we get songs and cake along the way, so much the better!

      • Darkwell
        September 13, 2008
        Edit | Reply
        i guess theres not more the hangman can do to the condemned but i dont think i would be joking with them and what do you say to the axeman "make you sure you sterelize that thing i dont wanna get a infection in heaven?

1 - 8 of 8