Lightning Bugs

True story.

Last night

The sky was filled with lightning,

Blinding, nearly-constant bursts

Crashing against the window amidst waves of violent rain,

The harbingers of chaos, noise, and death.

 

But tonight,

A different kind of flashes fill the air.

Lightning bugs,

So much gentler than the storm for which they’re named,

Gliding slowly through the midnight sky -

Flash.

Flash.

 

I tiptoe ‘cross the room in sockless feet

And stand before the window,

My form silhouetted against the moonlight’s peaceful glow,

Watching the lightning bugs dance with a tiny smile softening my lips.

A luminescent chemical reaction -

Insects driven by biological urges to search for a mate - 

But for me, they make the darkened treetops glitter,

Lanterns guiding pleasant dreams through the still night towards my bedroom,

Glowing heralds of healing slumber,

Beautiful mysteries that sparkle amidst the shadows.

 

It’s funny

How human beings can take the most mundane occurrences

And turn them into something beautiful,

Powerful,

Ethereal.

And the only thing that changes

Is the wideness of the awestruck eyes

Through which we wonder at them.

 

Magic isn’t found in nature

And it isn’t within us -

It’s the tiny, brilliant spark of light,

The connection that jumps into being for only an instant

When our two worlds collide.

And every flashing lightning bug’s a spark.

 

Fairies fly with faerie fire -

Fireflies.

Author's Note

If I had something interesting to say, I'd say it. But I don't. So this note is utterly pointless and probably far less funny than I think it is. Story of my life. XD

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

i love fire flies! from my back deck the land and trees fall away steeply so my gaze is across the tree tops easily ..and that's where the Faeries hop flutter and romp ..you have put into words my own feelings and blessed me with that wonderful experience anew ... tho it is just daybreak and a wild thunderstorm is rolling thru i am enjoying Fireflies ;) the deeper thoughts in your closing surprised me .. making your poem a universal human experience as well ..nice one ..enjoyed reading very much!
E.

[AliciaB]

Thank you so much!

[LittleBear]

Wow! This is amazing! I was totally in a trance and taken with the mood which is so strongly set in your poem. Every detail was beautifully descriptive. Perfect! ♡

[AliciaB]

Thank you so much!

[Shabeeh Haider]

The crashing of lightning followed by the gentler
flash of lightning bugs is a beautiful contradiction of the work of nature.
These lines are wonderful:

"The connection that jumps into being for only an instant
When our two worlds collide.
And every flashing lightning bug’s a spark."

[AliciaB]

Thank you!

[Emily]

Nice write!!
Keep it up!!

[AliciaB]

Thank you!

[Kat Mandu]

I really like the imagery you use. Another good job :)

[AliciaB]

Thank you!

[GalaxyGhost]

Oo, this is a wonderful poem because it completely has a lot of imagery and I can almost hear the storm. I love the part where you use the word "harbinger" as it's an awesome word people should use more! When I read that line with that word, I did a little jig in my head. You know what else would be a cool word to use in future poems? "Gruntled" which means content or happy, opposite of disgruntled.

[AliciaB]

Thank you! The reason I'm familiar with "harbinger" is that it was the name of the school magazine for my high school. It's rather ironic, because I didn't like the magazine - there was like NO EDITING done on any of the articles, so they were full of grammatical errors and stuff, and it really annoyed me. But it's still an awesome word. :) My friend was just talking about the word "gruntled" the other day. It is also fantastic. I will definitely consider using that. Thanks again!

[GalaxyGhost]

You're welcome!

[Raylene]

Alicia if I may call you that I must say this reminds me of when I was a child growing up in the country. Yes most humans ignore the simple beauty, I praise your work and hope to see more as I seem to of almost read all of it.

[AliciaB]

Of course you may call me Alicia! :) Thank you - I appreciate it.

[Raylene]

Anytime my dear writer

[Robert Parlange]

Pointless? This is beautiful, profound. Frankly, it made my day. I remember many Summer nights chasing fireflies. It's one of my favorite childhood memories. That and Fudgesicles.

Thank you for writing this. I needed it.

[AliciaB]

Haha thank you! Fudgesicles are amazing.

[Tamika]

This is beautiful! I adore the story that you tell through this poem. You have taken something quite simple and turned it into art, with your words. Much like what you say in the line: "How human beings can take the most mundane occurrences/And turn them into something beautiful" You have definitely done this. I love the mood that this poem holds. I have never seen fireflies but I now feel as if I have due to the amazing imagery you used. I love the strong description in the first stanza. I also love the calmness of the line; "Gliding slowly through the midnight sky", and I thought it was very clever of you to add the two flash words, in italics. Honestly I could pick out virtually every line In this poem and tell you what I like about it. So I'll just conclude that this poem is very gorgeous, and although simple I feel as if there is meaning and a deepness to it, almost a message. Very very good poem, and I feel privileged to have read it. Thank you for sharing.

[AliciaB]

Thank you so much for the lovely, in-depth review! I greatly appreciate it.

[Tamika]

No problem Alicia, thank you for all the in depth reviews you leave me!

[Sweet]

Sweet poem about fireflies, I like it ^_^
I have never seen some in real life and this poem makes me want to see them even more, I hope I will one day.
I also like the humor in your author's note XD

[AliciaB]

Thank you! Come to the Midwestern U.S. in the summer - they're everywhere! :)

[Sweet]

wow, nice, sounds awesome ^_^ I'll definitely plan a trip there