Candle Light
by Enrique Dryere
(First Place • Poetry)

Tired little bead,
Why dance so slow?
Too many tears of wax,
Soon the darkness shall grow.

Once proud stalk,
Why do you mourn?
The darkness is eternal,
The light, sojourn.

A little whisper,
The flame has choked,
And soul ascended,
In wisps of smoke.

Says I,
There can be no shadow,
Without the light.

Says he,
Tell that to the depths of the barrow,
Buried under moonless night.