Dedicated To Tonya Neff

She knew herself and was feeling foolish,
That perhaps there was still fire in the lamp.
She knew this herself because she had seen goodness in mankind;
That wasn’t There.
Risking, proving herself foolish,
She thought it likely the fire was out.
But she imagined the spark and decided to walk and be certain.
Fire or no fire, The Act proved her foolishness.
Yet there was a spark.
She cupped her hands around the wick and blew gently as
The spark brightened ever so slightly. Now she was sure . . .
It was there.
She swirled the lamp to moisten the wick; she blew again.
The little flame came to life.
And that’s how the fool kept the fire from going out,
For one more day.

–Joelle Budz