A lantern sways in twilight’s hush,
A golden glow in shadows’ crush.
It drifts on winds that time unmade,
A fleeting trace, a dream mislaid.
Its flame recalls what lips let go,
A name dissolved in ember’s flow.
Yet even lost, it dares to gleam,
A flicker frail, a silent scream.
The night may steal, the stars may fade,
Yet some soft lights refuse to wade.

The river hums, the lanterns wane,
Yet whispers breathe within the rain.
A wish, a voice, a love once known,
Now drifts beyond, yet not alone.
Each fire bends, but does not break,
It flickers bold for memory’s sake.
A heart may sleep, but never dies,
It lingers deep in embered skies.
The night may pass, the dawn may call,
Yet some lost lights still burn through all.