Lightning Bugs on a Summer Night

They were a source of delight for country children.

Lightning Bugs on a Summer Night

 

By Elton Camp

 

A display that I still sometimes see

Is of lightning bugs flashing at me

 

In truth, they don’t know I’m there

And if they did, they wouldn’t care

 

The light they make is a sexual trait

Used by the males to attract a mate

 

In the old days before security lights

To see them wink was a great delight

 

Us little kids rushed out with glee

How many we could catch to see

 

A full jar was success, we did think

Although they made our hands stink

 

We enjoyed their light for a while

Then released them with a smile

 

I’d really like to do that once again

At a senile old man folks would grin

 

So only a fond memory it has to stay

I dare not again try to do it that way