Happy Valentine’s Day on this Poetry Friday!
I subscribe to HeartBeats, a monthly newsletter from poet Georgia Heard. This month she offered the challenge to “write a love letter to something unexpected. Not a person—but a small, ordinary thing that quietly illuminates your world.”
I immediately thought about the Christmas candle I burned a few years ago, now long gone but certainly not forgotten. I burn lots of candles, but this particular one was perfection. And although I followed the exercise and made a heart map listing ideas, that candle kept coming up. I’ll admit, I’ve written about it before (versions you may or may not have read), but each time I do, I revise it just a bit. Here’s my latest:
To My Christmas Candle
Somewhere in the middle of a cold winter evening,
I fell in love with you.
Once lost in a whole season of decorating,
now you are so much more.
Burning evenly without residue on the smooth glass,
your glow is a measure of warmth and hope.
Somewhere in the middle of a cold winter evening,
I fell in love with you, my Christmas candle.
Draft, RoseCappelli2025
Linda has the roundup today at Teacher Dance. Be sure to stop by some music for lots of poetry goodness. And may this Valentine’s Day bring you love and kindness.
Imagine the Possibilities 
Such a great prompt from Georgia! And I love where your poem took you, Rose. These words can warm us all! xo
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Thank you, Irene!
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Enjoyed your poem — the light of hope burning steadily from your special candle. There’s something magical about candlelight, isn’t there? Happy V-Day to you!
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Thanks, Jama! I agree, candlelight is magical!
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We find love and comfort in the small things. I loved this prompt and how you shared your feelings about the candle.
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Thanks, Margaret.
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Rose, thank you for sharing the prompt as well as your sweet poem. I love that this certain Christmas candle made such an impression. Do you find yourself trying to find the same one, with its even, messless burning?
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Yes! I almost always buy Yankee candles because I find they burn the best. But I haven’t had one since that special one burn as evenly.
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Thanks Rose, for the great imagery. I can almost smell the pine! Think I’ll go light my candle!
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Thanks, Cathy.
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I did not realize that I, too, am in love with your Christmas candle!
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It still amazes me how much the small things keep us feeling so warm, and loved! It’s wonderful that you’ve continued writing about this special Christmas candle, Rose! I love how you talked to it with love, but honestly started with “Once lost” now “a measure of warmth and hope”.
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I love this love letter to the candle. 🙂
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Something small and ordinary that illuminates my world…Hmm…not a candle for me. Off the top of my head (without a heartmap for assistance) I would pick my Writer’s Almanac tea mug. It gives me a big warm jolt of caffeine to start my mornings. 🙂
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Sounds like a winner, Mary Lee! Maybe there will be a poem about your mug?
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What a lovely poem. It takes me right to sweet thoughts of the pleasure and comfort of a lit candle.
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I receive Georgia’s newsletter, too. I played with the love letter exercise but didn’t get anything worth posting. You did a great job with it and wrote a lovely poem. Thank you for sharing it.
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What a great prompt! And a poem full of gratitude!
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Awwwwww, this is beautiful! I love my candle too. I need to let it know.
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Hi Rose, I love your poem and Georgia’s prompt. I get her heart beats, too but I must have missed this one. I like how your poem flows. I can picture you tending to your candle and you’re writing in its glow. I love all your short /i/ assonance/rhyme in your first two lines, then your repetition of those line, but you put my Christmas candle at the end like a full circle.
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Thanks, Gail.
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Ugh. I’d written a long comment, and it disappeared (Sorry, your comment could not be posted). But thank you for this, Rose. It’s lovely.
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I’m so sorry that happened, Laura. I understand how frustrating that can be. Sometimes if you hit refresh it will post. Thank you for reading and for sharing your thoughts, my friend.
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Oh, Rose – this is the first time I’ve read a love letter, or love poem, to a candle – but your words and reminiscences make us all fall in love with its warmth & beauty! Thanks for sharing the light. :0)
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Thanks, Robyn.
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