My mother said never to sleep with a candle burning.

But how tempting it is

For the smell is sweet

And the flame is warm

the light is quite nice —

it makes the shadows dance

The candle is kind when you’re awake, she said, but don’t close your eyes. The smell becomes heavy and the flame will swallow Light turns to blaze

And the shadows will prowl

i’m not scared of getting burned

for the light is soft and harmless

though when i close my eyes

it’ll be a lesson learned