The Candle Snuffer

In the church of San Vitali ‘Gainst a dark and shadowed wall Stands the candle sniffing snuffer Waiting at our beck and call; Stands the candle sniffing snuffer Who will snuff out candles all. Does it matter to the snuffer Whether they are short or tall? No, he’ll kill the longest taper Just as quickly as the small. Give the alter boy the order, “Put the lights out in the hall.” And the candle sniffing snuffer Will come down upon them all. He’ll come down upon the candles, On our church he’ll put a pall, Down will go the shifting shadows That were dancing on the wall. Down will go the dancing shadows, “Death and darkness, take them all!” To the candles does it matter, Be they large or be they small? No, for just a nickel’s ‘dulgence We can re-light one and all. We can animate the shadows, We can liven up the wall. True, this wax reincarnation At this re-ignited ball Is unlike Vitali people Who when snuffed, we snuff it all. For we know we’re not like candles, We’re the light upon the wall, Though we give a lovely flicker We expect the snuffer’s call. Do we dread the snuffer’s sniffing? Yes, we cower and we crawl, Even though the time to snuff us By comparison is small. Is that all Vitali people are, Just light?  Is that our call? Can we be so unimportant? Ask the shadows on the wall. Written December 12th, 2001 © on Dec 12 2001 01:06 AM PST, same as above   0 • 13