Candles (For a Stillbirth) by Nancie Martin 

And there you are in my arms

in a dress with ruffles grinning with just two teeth

as everyone sings to you,and that’s you 

with handfuls of wrapping paper,

your face smeared with frosting,

and look at you there, showing your doll

how to cut the cake,

and it seems impossible that it’s been four years

of me lighting candles you’ll never see,

flickering dimly in their fireproof glass,

on the day you were born too soon,

on the day you should have been born,

on the day of remembering

all the birthdays I wanted you to have.

From: Beside Still Waters, available for download and purchase. 


Service Section: Prayers of Remembrance 
Source: Beside Still Waters https://yourbayit.org/beside-still-waters/