A paper skin, a fragile frame,
A flickering heart, a dancing flame.
I hold the shadows at bay,
And pierce the darkness with my ray.
I watch the night unfold its wings,
And hear the whispers that it brings.
A silent witness, I stand tall,
As stories rise, and shadows fall.
From ancient streets to fields of green,
I've seen the world in every scene.
A beacon of hope, a guiding light,
I chase away the darkest night.
But time will steal my burning glow,
And leave me fading, soft and low.
A memory then, a whispered rhyme,
A lantern's song, a fleeting time.