One candle here, lighting hope,
for the days I had already folded away
and called despair,
and for all the broken relationships
in which I now beg for forgiveness.

One candle here, lighting love,
for the wrongs I did to others,
for the wrongs others did to me,
all of them I long to see melt away
before the burning warmth of the Lord.

One candle here, lighting joy,
as you come to the stable-like place
that is my life,
lay your holy body there and make it pure,
so that unending praise may never cease.

One candle here, lighting peace,
for all the countless times in a day I sink in gloom,
for the discord when I am farthest
from my own true self;
even when alone, I long to pull hard
at the oars of peace.

One candle here, lighting the coming of the Savior,
and on the road where your grace leads me,
a rich fragrance overflows
on the fields of this life.

© WanHee Yoon, 1991