The Chandelier Competition
What would you use to bring light into our lives?
Candles? Crystal? Mirrors? Sparklers?
Fireflies? Solar Trickery?
Your entries, boxed and bubblewrapped,
must reach us by midday of the winter equinox.
Last year’s winner is a hard act to follow;
an intricate weaving of glowworms,
darkness and moonlight;
a perfect equilibrium of chiaroscuro.
This creation lasted one night only –
the glowworms devoured
both light and shade.
They lay, plump and dim in the dawnlight
like toothless vampires.
This year’s judges are our most northerly neighbours :
Icelanders, Greenlanders, Swedes and Orcadians.
They have all signed waivers
after the Danes’ scandalous looting
of last year’s runners up.
First prize this year is a month
in the southern hemisphere.
The darkness is coming.
Light a candle to Santa Lucia
and try your luck.
Sue Burge teaches creative writing and film studies. She is fascinated by liminal states, silent movies and fairy tales. Her poetry has been published in magazines such as Mslexia and The North. Find out more about her work at www.sueburge.co.uk