flame

a small fire of purest warmth and light
against the cold, measureless mist of
moonless night.
burning with all the fury of a candle
it shivers against the void.

"Swallow, Swallow, Swallow!" it dares
          the night.

          silence

there is nothing that listens.
no challenge
just a 

          flicker
          soft glow
          dim
          ebb

          smoke
          drifts
          into

the cold, measureless mist of 
moonless night.