The One Who Keeps Our Candle Burning

The night is long,
the air is cold,
the lost sheep go astray,
the wind is strong,
the time is old,
and home is far away.

And as we go,
towards that shore
on this cold winter night
the shadows grow
forever more
and darken our sight.

But far away,
a light is born
to soothe our weary eyes,
and as we stray
we feel the morn
and hope that never dies.

And we may stumble,
we may bend,
lost, frozen to the bone
but that bright candle
gives us strength
to make it safely home.

This poem was a finalist in the June 2008 poetry contest