7 Little Things

And on that piece of paper I wrote 7 little things;
       7 tiny reasons my heart was weighted

I capped the marker and opened the cabinet;
       I fumbled around until I felt what I needed-- the lighter

I stepped into the cold night;
      I rolled the paper into a tube

The lighter wouldn't stay on;
      It was as if the universe wanted my heart to sink more and more

It finally lit at one end;
     My spirits lifted and lifted

It burned more;
     I felt my burden lightening

I extinguished the end;
     For I felt well enough

I took the other end in;
     I unfurled it to throw it out

My heart sank even deeper than before;
    I had burnt the wrong end.