the grotto.

tiny souls waver still
between the act of being alight
&exploding softly into smoke
stolen away by the night's gentle
inhale.
silent kept embraces:
the collecting flame of letting go
&holds it in careful hands
until you
a solitary bystander
takes it in to humble pores

something as universally
disfiguring as
mortality
takes on a candle's glow
while a worn & pale virgin
[shrouded, yet unignored]
weeps upon torn enwspaper
faded ink
&dried flower rosaries