The tall red candles
Poem by Edith Simpson From December 24, 1971
by Edith Simpson
22nd December 2023
‘The holly bears a bark
as bitter as any gall.’ – Old Carol
I light the tall red candles
And in their brightness hide
The thought of earth’s lost children
In whose eyes light has died
Too ‘cumbered much with serving’
To turn my mind upon
The grisly work of Herod
That grinds, relentless, on,
I play my part – but sometimes,
Remorse and anguish riven,
I go out in the darkness
And pray to be forgiven.
