Birthday Candles

It’s my birthday; sweet sixteen
I’m looking at a few candles mounted on a cake
I think of what has happened
I think of lives, lives lost

I’m looking at the first flame
Its May 2000 and so much destruction
New Mexico the Cerro Grande Fire burned
That candle dims, fades to darkness

The second flame is not as strong
It’s already grown fainter
I see Texas floods of 1998, 31 lives extinguished
Simple as that. The lights gone for them

The next is a blistering flame
And yet the water quenches it
The Tsunami rages, spreads over the land
150,000 gone, vanished from sight
They can’t find a way back.

Just a few candles seated on this cake
But while this light glows
Hope remains in some shape or form
This year I’ll leave my candles burning.