flickering and burning, vaporized paraffin
a bridal-dance shrouded in the light
surrounded, but not consumed
feet moving on cracked parquet
holes punched in leather
soles scuffing in rhythm
and scuffing in tiny circles
twirling in the flickers
enflamed but not illumined
squeezed by ink and velvent and the scent of caustic medicines
crushed by the blackness at the centre of the wick
abandoned by the incandescence
abandoned by the flame and heat
folding inwards to a sober and unending pressure
the submarine depths where glimmers rarely dare
falling while standing up
paused in an instant of doubt
in a silence that tears
in a dance
in a flame
in the dark