no incandescence

there is no need for magic at the changing hour
the clocks won't stop but still there is a pause
outside there's hope that soon we'll see a flower
appearing obedient to the eternal laws
the light that comes arrives here when it's old
its glow illuminates but cannot provide heat
we're all protected against the steady cold
our choice is spartan we cannot retreat
there's a long blank the messages are pale
against the longest dark there's no success
undisturbed by the markings of a single nail
the smooth light measurement of due process
time moves at the same pace but when we measure
we find that it does not linger over what we treasure