the candle burned through the night.
I turned many times to watch it—
not really caring to sleep.
turning back I would see
the dim fire folding shadows
into your light hair:
you faced the wall.   held there
between fading candle and you,
I felt dawn sifting in
through curtain cracks.
it was then I blew the flame out
and the new light took over.
my eyes closed.
you did not know any of this;
you were sleeping.