From the Archive: The Birthday Candle.

This is a poem I wrote back in 2022 for my birthday, and thought I'd share it here.

Today is my 23rd birthday, so I thought I’d share a piece I wrote a couple years ago. I generally write pieces like this each year, as well as pieces for major holidays. In some sense, these pieces reflect my mood that year— and considers the struggle I’ve had with appreciating my birthday as well.

Here is the poem:

"Here, take this," he says, handing you a candle.
"Light it, make a wish, and then blow it out."
You find yourself fumbling with your hands and
Struggling to produce a flame from a match
That the man before you has chosen to provide.

He watches, his eyes twinkle in admiration as
The match in your hand finally lights up.
You take it and move it closer to the candle,
Pressing it close to the wicker at the very top,
And the candle lights up fiery and bright.

Staring at it, you hesitate, and the man notices:
"What are you waiting for? It's your birthday."
The words carry diction, as if they were consuming.
What was a birthday but a mere cycle of life,
Reminding you of what comes after breathing?

"You know," he speaks, "to celebrate life is to
Celebrate the next chapter in your story."
You can feel the wax of the candle dripping,
It leaks down onto the side of your hand
Before sliding off and onto the floor instead.

"It can be hard to keep moving, to want to move
Forward and embrace what life gives you."
He breathes in and takes a step closer.
"Sometimes it's hard, but the things we do
And the people we meet... they make us
Who we thought we could never be."

The candle had gotten so tiny now that
There was barely any flame left to blow away.
You are silent, shifting as you listen to him,
Until he notices how low the candle is now,
And he too, turns his attention to it.

"When you blow it out," he advises calmly,
"Don't be afraid, for there will always be a
Light to guide you where ever you go.
You are bright, you are strong, and I know
You will do a many great things in your time."

You put your lips to it and finally blow it out,
The light is whisked away and darkness
Fills all around you and your empty space.
And as you look back to that man in front,
You noticed that there was no one there at all. 

I love this poem and the way that its written, but I’m not here to reflect on it. However, I’d like to know what you think of it. What are the components of the piece pulling you in? Is there anything in there feeling lackluster, or not reaching its potential? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Also, if you want to get me something for my birthday, I have a wish-list up on Amazon. Don’t feel obligated to get me anything though— it’s already a gift enough to have you here and reading this. Though, as a gift from me to you, I’m doing a giveaway of my eBook “Inside the Sun and Moon” in celebration of my birthday month.

All you have to do to get your free copy is subscribe to this blog. And if you’re already subscribed, but haven’t gotten yours, make sure to check your email. The giveaway ends 12:00am PST on September 1st. See you next time, and thank you for reading this

!