On this the first day of official summer, it seems fitting to celebrate fireflies. For several weeks now, we have had an unusually active firefly season here. I have never seen so many of these magical insects as I have this year. You could almost take their show for a display of twinkling Christmas lights.
A time-lapse sequence showing fireflies and star trails. Photo: Steve Irvine
A bit like a midsummer night’s dream
When my 13-year-old niece Katie visited last weekend, she was awed by the fireflies, which we always got to see during our late evening walks with my dog, Toby. Living in the city, she had never seen anything like it. In the morning, I suggested she try writing a poem about them (as she is a budding writer). Here is the result, which I think is wonderful:
Fireflies
bright lights dance on air
illuminate the dark
no words to say
darkness shines around
their own radiant fire flares
free of the sun
reach for them
hand comes back empty
I instead am captive
For lots of good information about fireflies,visit the Museum of Science site, Firefly Watch.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Funny you should have so many – this is the first year ever that I’ve seen ONE in the backyard. So I think that’s progress.
We always have plenty of fireflies in our meadow, but this year their numbers seem to have exploded for some reason. (Maybe the very mild winter? The recent rains? I can only guess.)
This is as good as it gets (could be Firefly Haiku)–lovely!
reach for them
hand comes back empty
I instead am captive
A beautiful poem! Congratulations, Katie. The fireflies are well-honoured.
Katie did a real nice job on this poem! We have the fireflies here now and they are all in the woods and yard. It is just spectacular to see them for the first time and anytime!
What a beautiful poem, Katie!
We also have lots of fireflies here – they are so amazing little creatures.
Midsummer night – tomorrow, June 23, is the annual celebration of midsummer in Denmark. Every community has bond-fires and people gather to sing some old Danish midsummer songs around the fire. Here, the two of us will probably have a fire and sit singing by it – any neighbours hearing it, thinking we are weird.
Lene
Yvonne what a wonderful reminder of a beautiful mystery .. Fireflies are simply amazing to me .. I remember seeing them as a child and believing they were truly fairies : )
That was a lovely poem your niece wrote .. and a wonderful experience she shared with you .. if only more kids could see how magic nature is ?
I loved this post ! Thank you
Joy : )
Thank you all for your warm comments: Katie will be so pleased when she reads them.
Katie and Yvonne. What a wonderful collaboration! I’m brimming with pride in reading such a beautiful poem set to the backround of a magical photo.
Krista (Yvonne’s sister, Katie’s aunt)
Thanks for sharing this Yvonne.
I like Fireflies since young age..I still remember my DAD like to bring us to top of mountain during the evening and waiting for the fire flies to lighten up the field..and my brother & I started to play hide & seek…bring back lots of memory:)
Jay Chua
Publisher, PorchSwingSets.com