It's Still Life

Some Candles Never Get Lit

I feel an urge
to light a candle, for my mum.
A scented one. But that’s not allowed
at The Oaks Residential Care Home,

and my sister says,
the oldies forget that they’ve lit
the damned things;
they catch curtains and carpets alight.

And I don’t mention that age-wise
I’m qualified to live here, and
by the way and I’ve never forgotten
that I’ve lit anything, let alone
ever incinerated anything.

Well, toast maybe.

And she asks, Ya wanna go to church?
I reconsider, and
suggest Starbucks instead.

for PB’s Chapbook Exercise: Candles (this is a draft)