As a child in the country - no television to distract me in those days - one of my favorite activities on a late summer evening was chasing fireflies, or lightning bugs as we called them then. I liked to catch them in a jar to make my own special flashlight. (My mother always made me let them go, of course. )
There were plenty of fireflies in those days, enough to light up those summer evenings. Not so many these days. Watching them twinkle in the dusk as the sun went down is a fond memory that will, I hope and wish, always be with me. "Firefly wishes always come true."
by Jacqueline Woodson
It's almost May
and yesterday
It's almost May
and yesterday
I saw a firefly.
You don't see
them a lot
in the city.
Sometimes
in the park
in the near dark
one comes out
you'll hear
a little kid shout
Lightning bug! Firefly!
It's almost May
and yesterday
I caught a firefly in my hand.
First firefly I
seen in a
long, long time.
Make a wish,
Miss Edna said.
Make a good one.
Firefly wishes always come true.
It’s a while since I have seen one. They thrill me as much now as they ever did.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any so far this year, although, to be honest, I haven't been outside that much when they would be active.
DeleteI love this poem. It captures the child's delight that we all hope to retain throughout our lives.
ReplyDeleteThat's much the same reaction that I had. That childhood joy is what I think we all yearn for as we grow older.
DeleteLove this! I had to travel to Iowa on vacation when I was in my 20s before I ever saw my first firefly.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I wonder if they are still found more plentifully in some parts of the continent.
DeleteI don't know, but we don't have them here in Utah.
DeleteI'm trying to recall where I saw my last firefly ... I think it was back East likely while traveling in Ontario? It's been a long while. I appreciate the poem!
ReplyDeleteFireflies are declining across the continent due to light pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has an article called "Save the Fireflies" that gives some ways that we can help them.
DeleteI stay down the hill from the house in an old cabin when I go to visit my son and his family in East Texas. They always walk me down to the cabin at night. We were all delighted to see fireflies everywhere as we walked to the cabin in the dark of East Texas.
ReplyDeleteAnd I am delighted to hear that you are still seeing them there.
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