Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CANDLE AND CUP, by HELEN TEMPLETON DOUGLAS ROBINSON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CANDLE AND CUP, by                    
First Line: I keep a candle burning for each friend
Last Line: And tears are of no avail.
Subject(s): Man-woman Relationships; Male-female Relations


I keep a candle burning for each friend.
You brought me one to burn for you one night.
Each candle keeps on burning day by day
According to the nature of its light.

My lights all shone till you came in and said:
"Why is not mine the brightest of them all?"
You blew on it till it began to splutter;
You blew till it was black within my hall,

And then you called: "Come, light it up again."
I tried but nothing but a flicker came.
Except a moment's feeble, fainting flutter,
There was no flame -- and you were not the same.

You brought me a cup and I filled it
As well as I could from my cup.
I thought you were happy till one day
You threw it down after one sup:
"You must give me all," then you muttered,
And, seeing the bits on the floor,
You picked up the broken pieces
And told me to pour you some more.

I am tired of seeing things broken;
I am tired of seeing things fail --
The broken cup cannot hold water
And tears are of no avail.





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