Candle wax guttered
out from under the flame
to run down the candle cylinder
and form droplets
as the air cooled it solid.
Studying the flame and wax
smoothed my face
as tears rolled from my eyes
and solidified
just past my cheek
but above my jawbone
into something crystalline.
Like the candle
when the flame went out
a nubbin remained
inside me
with a hardened
translucent plug
around my feet.
copyright © 2022 Kenneth P. Gurney
Umflop 