free_mind_7

another one of my extremely short stories which really has no story line at all.....anyway...

Burning Candle

The candle burns, flickering, dancing, speaking in its deafening voice. He looks at it; through it perhaps. He understands it deeply, knowing. He knows everything it has to say. Everything it has to be discovered. And there is no other mortal in the world capable of comprehending such a beautiful poetry of knowledge. He has the gift. The flame tells all and he listens. It shows him the dancing souls entrapped within the soft glowing light.

Everything in the flame tells a story. The neighbor down the hall, a rapist. Never suspected of such an indecent lifestyle, by anyone, but he knows. The flame tells no lies. Across the street in the Damson Complex, pregnant with her third child. No man to father it, once again. She cries every night, knowing that not only is she the victim, but the children also. Two floors down, a rich young man, having need for no job, consumes his wealth. Snorting, smoking, shooting it all away. No worry for him, for he makes his living well enough.

The flame grows and the man knows his power. He loves it. Cherishes it. It is his child, not to be neglected or abused, but to be loved and nourished. He pours his life into the candle's flame. It is all that he has. No one to share himself with. No one there to care.

He thinks to himself of how many people would kill to have his gift. And he knows what they would learn. Terror would be instilled in their greedy blood. Knowing very well the sadistic images brought to mind through the flame and he quivers at the thought. Then slowly he begins to lose himself again, back into that ever-honest fire. Everything is lost, and the world around him begins to blur and disappear into the glow of that tiny flame once more.

__________________
"Well fuck me Freddy!" -Beaver Clarenden in "Dreamcatcher"

Aubrey

I have always thought that there was a fascination between man and fire, and the compelling urge to stare within dancing flames to visions only that the watcher can decipher them. I like how you make the watcher able to look into the flame and see into the lives of others, almost scrying as it were. This is really a neat story, and if you ever decide to broaden or deepen the story itself, I'd love to read about it! ^_^

-Wol

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"This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it."

amie

Beautiful...I'm tempted to say, expand; this is only the introduction, but I won't. I don't want to see any more because I like this so much just the way it is. I never say this, but I think an actual plot would cheapen the work some how.

well done,
amie

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"The writer who loses his self-doubt, who gives way as he grows old to a sudden euphoria, to prolixity, should stop writing immediately: the time has come for him to lay aside his pen." - Colette

rcallaci

Good job. You think deeply and you see much. You got the gift my man.


Warmest Regards,
Bob

__________________
Nature weeps, the devil sings
at man’s greed and pride
and what it brings

Just lots of useless
little things…

God is Dead; He died yesterday from Nothing...

http://theoddvillepress.com

free_mind_7

thanx bob. i know you've got it too. thanx to everyone else too. im glad that you all enjoyed it as short as it may be.

~FM7

__________________
"Well fuck me Freddy!" -Beaver Clarenden in "Dreamcatcher"

modified7

Great idea that I'd like to see developed. I agree with what Amie says that it might cheapen it with a "plot" but give it a shot and if you feel it's survived with it's appeal intact let us have it.
Does the flame propogate anything good in people or does it merely reflect the evil deeds of others? I like the visual I got when reading it of the street he lived on, and his apartment he lived in. I know you gave no real details of this but the visual was there for me anyways. Nice story... Keith