The following piece is a triad of poems representing perspectives of Self, a Candle and the Divine. Lowercase letters are used to maintain a sense of vulnerability throughout the piece.

Self
i gave this candle, life,
offered it to the divine,
to a power beyond my plane,
hoped that it’d burn brighter than any flame.

but soon it flickered,
as did my hope at revival.
a breeze wanted to take it out,
in a closed room.

the gods had answered,
but i just wouldn’t listen.
if this flame died today,
so did i.

i shrouded the flickering flame,
bare hands,
it burned me still,
such was the divine will.

Candle
i did not ask for this life,
nor for the weight of your prayer.
why should i help you fight your bane,
why must i burn brighter than any flame?

i tried to speak,
in smoke and sway.
you thought ’twas the breeze,
in a closed room.

you lit me with trembling hands,
hope, heavy in gasping breath,
as if i had the power,
to save your flickering faith.

i flinched,
for you bore the pain of my flickering flame,
you tried to save me still,
and called it divine will.

Divine
you called to me,
with a candle.
you think you gave it life,
why assume such power inside you?

the breeze,
in a closed room,
came from within you,
the candle just knew.

i am forever yours,
why wouldn’t you listen,
why does your faith flicker,
my worship is not a prison.

you suffered,
protecting the light you adored,
that is the price of love that you paid still,
why must you call it an act of divine will?