I've just seen the first lightning bugs. Wanna chase 'em with me?

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

In keeping with my own private tradition, upon my first sighting of the season's first lightning bugs, I shall now post a poem I wrote twenty-some years ago. Hope you enjoy it (again).

LIGHTNING BUGS

Warm springtime dusk-- Just right
for barefoot-running through
the back-yard grass so cool
and tickley; 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 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.

Steven A. Hessler
©2000, 2006
All Rights Reserved

[Redstone]

1. You betcha. I still like chasing fireflies. I'll go with you.

Redstone

[Arugula Latte]

2. Oh, man.

I remember that from when I was an Ohio kid...We don't have lightning bugs on the West Coast. I'm jealous.

Have fun chasin'! Thanks for the poem -- it's very evocative of a summer night. :hi:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

4. I was raised next door in Indiana

Now I'm in Texas. Funny where people end up... :evilgrin:

[Roon]

3. We don't have them in Colorado

But I remember chashing them in Ohio. Have fun!!!

[reyd reid reed]

5. There aren't any here

I remember them from when I lived on the east coast, though. I love 'em.

One of my kids' friends went on vacation and brought him a firefly a few years ago. I felt horrible for the poor thing but I kept it alive for two months.

Every night, it sat on top of the cabinet and flashed and flickered and made me think of when I was a kid.

(edited because I noticed the subject line exactly matched the previous one)