This year it's just the two of us
Carroll and I
unless you count
two poodles
and a Maine coon cat

Just we two
to light the candles
say the blessings
sing the songs and
gaze into the flames

But now the room
begins to fill with some
still in this world
some graduated to the next
dear ones with whom
we lit and blessed and sang
at this same time
in other years and places

My teacher taught
it wasn't that the oil
lasted eight days
the miracle
was that they could find any oil at all
after the Temple had been razed and sacked

Just so
tonight the miracle
is to be here at all
sharing this moment
the two of us
but also with our loved ones
present in the room
familiar faces
voices
these simple candles have evoked