but then her eyes looked through
the snow of hair, the ash of skin –

they burned with the fire of the love
still within her – the love she took
with her. her eyes cooling as she

left them and me behind,
the spark of her soul departed, taking
that flame – her eyes dimming

from opal embers to greying marbles.

the flame of life gone, the body’s wax
ceased its daily melting, to stiffen,
harden.

her candle spent, her flame returned
to the Father of Lights.