Be Brave, Little Flame, Burn Strong

A small thin taper burns
on a rock
in a sea.

Sometimes,
the sea is calm,
the sky is jeweled.

Other times,
the sea is a furious billow
the sky a raging bellow.

Be brave, little flame!
Burn strong!

Let not the waves of despair quench thy light!

When all is uproar, when you tremble with the shaking of your rock,
Be brave, little flame! Burn strong.

When the darkness roars in fury,
and you cannot distinguish sky from sea,
Be brave, little flame! Burn strong.

Shed thy tallow tears
quell your callow fears,
Know that bright Dawn will soon be along
Be brave, little flame! Burn strong!

Let not salt tears drown the beauty of your light
Be brave, little flame! Burn strong!