Fireflies

by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Friday 13th October 2017 11:27 am (first posted Wednesday 27th September 2017 1:08 pm)

Fireflies on a summer's night

Are a wondrous sight

Flitting from weed to flower

Casting long across the lawn

To a far bed of blossoms and herbs

flashing … flashing ...

their little lanterns.

Reflected in our eyes grown wide

Our mouths little tunnels of 'OOOH!'

We watch, silent as grass

As twilight deepens

And the tiny bugs pass

flashing … flashing

their little lanterns.

We are caught in Magic

Not sure of Science or Math

As fairy lamps dart and hover

Over the garden path.

No one moves to press a torch

To light a cigarette

Or pull a phone from pocket.

Snared - all of us -

In this net of evening mystery

fireflies … fireflies … fireflies …

flashing little lanterns

on – off – on – off – on – off.

As darkness falls

Our souls know Joy

Without definition.

Cynthia Buell Thomas, September, 2017

Comments

<Deleted User> (13762)

Fri 29th Sep 2017 09:40

excellent Cynthia. I haven't seen fireflies in the UK for years but was lucky to see a whole load of them in Virginia last year. Magical, until the mosquitoes started eating me and I had to retreat indoors. Thank you for this lovely poem. Colin.

Martin Elder

Thu 28th Sep 2017 22:08

This is quite beautiful Cynthia. I can't say that I have ever seen a firefly but your description brings them very much alive. Like Raj I like the thought of the on off on off feeling.
Hope you are keeping well
Martin

Raj Ferds

Thu 28th Sep 2017 07:30

You really drew me into this one Cynthia. Beautiful.
Seems like I was there as well. Wonderful imagery -- so real.

(Look there goes another one... on-off, on-off, on-off)

Raj

<Deleted User> (18118)

Wed 27th Sep 2017 18:56

Twilight magic, love this poem.

Stu Buck

Wed 27th Sep 2017 16:13

my eyes are alight also, how wonderful! i love the immediacy, the dark and the light and all the while the little pinpricks of light dancing through the air. lovely stuff and a great backstory.

Cynthia Buell Thomas

Wed 27th Sep 2017 13:20

My husband asked, 'Why are your eyes so alight?'

'I have just written a poem,' I answered, 'And I like it.' I had the script in my hand.

'All that!' he said in amazement.

'Well, yes. It just came. It just came. Can't help it. Didn't ask it for it. Had to write it down. No idea why. Doesn't matter. But I feel better inside my head. Breathing is easier.'

And he just smiled and shook his head.

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Fireflies

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