MATCHSTICKS

It’s 11:30pm

I vanished into this thick darkness a minute ago

It's cold outside-

the sky is moonles.

I don’t know where to go.

Lost in my own room.

I shut my eyes 

since it's useless in this darkness.

I drop my bag near the mattress

and place my palms on the wall.

I lift one toe after the other

towards the kitchen door.

I’m here in the kitchen.

I hear rats speaking or picking crumbs from the slab.

I ignore them

and slide my palms over the slab

in search of a matchbox.

I hit it towards the right and go after it at once.

I lift my hands just above me to

pick a stick of candle.

There are five matchsticks in the box.

I’d have to be careful of course

this black fog is beyond what my sleep can handle.

It’d be 11:59pm now 

there's no moonlight for us.

I strike the first four sticks

They all went out at once.

One more stick to pick

to flash light

or sleep in this thick

blinder.

 

I take the single saving stick out,

take a deep breath,

take my time,

take my candle close,

but not so close to the wind from my nose.

I strike it.

curve my left palm around it

to calm the breeze

And wow! the candle is on. 

If I had handled the first like it was the only one.

I would have used just one of the whole matchsticks

rather than losing all. 

(c)Solarspeaks