Candlelight

Thoughts on the following haiku:

‘the light of a candle

is transferred to another candle

-spring twilight’

The heartwarming quote mentioned beforehand is an expression used to open symbolic eyes upon how much mere words and selfless acts of kindness might influence others’ perception of reality. Throughout our maturing process, having been perennially lectured on the essential nature of kindness, we just rolled our puppy eyes, oblivious of the realization that we could literally save lives. When one is down in a metaphorical pit so dark they cannot see day, a sweet gesture might mean the revelation that there’s still pristine light and hope left, even if they’re presently wallowing in excruciating pain. Were one to comprehend the potential power of a random act of kindness, one’s compassion might turn the world around.

Right now, I am your street prophet, spreading the simple word: be kind to others, for when your spark lights up the dark, others may have burnt out long ago, but you can always turn them round and light up their lives. When given a chance, one ought to cherish it. Whenever a symbolic candle’s light is transferred, it does not become weaker but spreads like wildfire, meaning the exact opposite, it becomes infinitely stronger. That spark might represent society’s signal, to spread a positive attitude, as such a beacon should transform one into a better version of oneself. When one provides aid, lighting up one’s candle, one does not have the sense of loss, only that of exhilaration and joy, as helping one’s betters is hardly a waste, one might never know when one’s closest had a proverbial bad day.

The final line of this quote may seem a tad out of place at first glance, nonetheless, reality, this final phrase only deepens the meaning of the whole. Spring twilight qualifies as the momentous change when the light falls below horizon and cedes space for the obscure, being a far cry more than just a mesmerizing sight. It is nature’s subtle way of signalling how change must not necessarily hold a horrid connotation. It is a lecture on how sharing might lead to change.

However, every coin has a flipside, and unfortunately one needs to examine said shady side, namely the fact that without misery or dread of the unknown, life as a condition might become rather dull. These alterations of perception aren’t always to the worse, they are crucial parts of one’s life cycles. Without a healthy amount of apprehension at times, respect towards others will dwindle, and without misery, one will never learn from one’s mistakes. One needs to falter and face disappointment before one might rise once more and start moving forward.

One only requires aid when one cannot get a grasp of one’s own dreams, having fallen too badly to gather the shattered pieces, or, to reroute this this train of thought to our haiku: only when one’s spark dies. It’s a lesson seldom learned.

Kindness is not necessarily a privilege only few people are allowed to bask in. After reading the haiku or just listening to me, one might just go on about one’s day, without taking into consideration the possibility to alter one’s mentality, oblivious to what is right in front of us: spreading kindness and knowledge selflessly is never a waste. A light of a candle is transferred to another candle- and that is our spring twilight, where even nature proves the truth of my statement, so I don’t haven’t to.

Iedlicska Nóra   IX. H