A tribute to celebrate my first yearly sighting of a lightning bug

A poem I wrote many years ago. I like to post it upon my first sighting of the year-- It happened five minutes ago.

It's official. Spring is here.
----

LIGHTNING BUGS

Warm springtime dusk-- Just right
for barefoot-running through
the back-yard grass so cool
and tickly; fresh and nice--
The flashes happen suddenly,
hidden at the corner of an
unsuspecting eye--
Now stop! Stand still;
don't breathe or blink,
for they may see and fly,
unseen, away!
Now over there! Up in the trees!
As night sneaks up to cool the breeze;
a Flash! and Flash!
Before you know you're darting
here and there across
the night-dark grassy lawn,
hands snatching at
a million zillion flecks
of winking yellow light--
You reach, and catch!
Your Mason jar is full
of blinking midnight
magic-lantern fire!
So, giggling, off you go to bed--
You keep your jar safe by your head--
You drowse to sleep, and smiling, dream
of whirring through the night on wings of
sprinkly, starry, winking, twinkly light.


Copyright © 2001-2005 Steven A. Hessler
All Rights Reserved

each year...what state are you in? I always want to be the first one!

So sorry. I apologize (for living in Texas, that is...) :evilgrin:

I love those little critters, too. Brings back lots of memories of chasing them in the backyard, catching them and letting them go. Thanks for posting!

You captured childhood in verse.

"I remember!"

And I do, too.

:evilgrin: