Home » Poems » Anselmo Boles » Fireflies

Fireflies

Fireflies face extinction due to habitat loss, light pollution and
              pesticides. What have they done to deserve such callous fate?


                                           "No man is an island"
                           A saying by the English author John Donne






                                                      Fireflies

                          Born underneath enigmatic expanding skies
                          Cuddled by a Blue Planet of emerald and ice.
                          Like a serpentine river of gems silently arise
                          Gliding on gossamer wings evoking surprise.

                          Sparkling rubies wove in the curtain of night
                          Bathed in darkness in sheer ethereal delight.
                          Solemnly await the inevitable ultimate flight
                          Towards soothing rays of love's healing light!









Penned: 02/07/2023
             4:25 p.m.
             N. Las Vegas

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Jim Slaughter

Date: 1/6/2024 10:21:00 AM

A lovely piece, Anselmo. I did not know of the plight of fireflies before reading this.

Anselmo Boles
Date: 1/6/2024 12:00:00 PM

Thank you Jim. Yeah, there might not be many of them left pretty soon...ab

Marikate Kingston

Date: 4/25/2023 9:00:00 PM

I love the last two lines in your first stanza, so wonderfully descriptive, so beautiful. A true sign of summer, the firefly. Your poem brought back good memories of my childhood summers.

Gary Radice

Date: 2/27/2023 7:07:00 AM

Sadly I've never seen a firefly for real (I like Disney's version of them at the beginning of The Pirates Of The Carribean ride in Paris though). I believe the fireflies' light is emitted to attract mates but I digress. I love your description of them Anselmo and indeed the common theme that runs through much of your work - that of man's ignorance and destruction of this planet. Another great read. Cheers - Gary

I Am Anaya

Date: 2/19/2023 5:51:00 PM

Imagery galore, I envy your encounter with the firefly. I myself won't be sharing any such encounter being that I never had the experience. I'm glad you noted the fact that they are threatened by extinction. They have done nothing wrong Anselmo!

Anselmo Boles
Date: 2/22/2023 4:49:00 PM

Just left Vegas, truth is, I hardly gambled. Good for me, no? Thank you for the visit!...ab

Anselmo Boles
Date: 2/21/2023 11:21:00 AM

Hello Anaya, I totally appreciate you chiming in. My experience viewing fireflies proved to me that magnificence exists in all creatures, not just man. Humans are supposed to be the protectors, not annihilators. Take care!...ab

Valsa George

Date: 2/17/2023 7:52:00 AM

I too miss seeing these luminous flies. How they used to delight our eyes when the shroud of darkness falls over our earth . Like the stars in the sky, they used to brighten the earth. But they are so hard to be found these days . As you have observed, they are on the verge of extinction. Beautifully written Anselmo.

Anselmo Boles
Date: 2/17/2023 12:02:00 PM

It's been so long since my first encounter with them. I was captivated, even speechless. I hope that the next generation of nature lovers will still be able to experience their mystique. Thanks so much for sharing your feelings, Valsa!...ab

Gershon Wolf

Date: 2/16/2023 7:18:00 PM

'Sparkling rubies,' indeed they are... And, yes, they have done nothing wrong to deserve their fate, as John Donne wrote! ~ Gershon

Anselmo Boles
Date: 2/16/2023 9:46:00 PM

Not everyone, but a huge number of the human race have been so self-absorbed, and brazenly indifferent towards others. Pity...ab

Joseph May

Date: 2/13/2023 6:54:00 AM

So sad that there beautiful glows may be no more, Wonderful write

Anselmo Boles
Date: 2/16/2023 9:39:00 PM

Yeah, a dark outcome of one of humanity's blunders. Thanks Joseph!...ab

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 2/10/2023 9:04:00 PM

Ahh..the beauty of fireflies…surely makes you wonder how much more light we should have.

Anselmo Boles
Date: 2/11/2023 1:56:00 PM

Light, Life and Love...the three most essential components to a whole...ab

Timothy Ray

Date: 2/10/2023 5:45:00 PM

a great write gravid with absolutely outstanding imagery....rolled my mind into memories of my first encounter with fireflies....thanks, such a magic moment for someone who had never seen them before...more so the essence of the wisdom within this....loved it

Anselmo Boles
Date: 2/11/2023 1:49:00 PM

As always, thanks very much Timothy...ab