Curse the darkness

Early for Mass
I sat in a back pew
(as I usually do)
next to a statue of Jesus
and rows of votive candles.

As I was praying
a man came in
put money in the coin box behind me
and clicked on a candle.

The candle’s flame
flickered and danced
electric flame
an electric candle.

Electric faith.

The man silently stood before the statue of Jesus
head bowed.
I watched the electric flames
and
wistfully
thought about the smell of a struck match
the scent of wax
the trail of smoke rising like incense
and wondered if some day
there will be electric incense.

But

sometimes a candle that is not a candle is a candle
just like a prayer that is not a prayer is a prayer.

The man sat in a pew
Mass began
the statue of Jesus stood
the electric candles flickered beside me
inside me
and
I swear
I smelled wax.