Notes About The Poem

To a Firefly

You flit around the marshes and in places warm and wet.
as a beetle you’re about as bright as any bug can get!

You have a tiny flashlight built into your small tummy,
but for foes, your bio-luminescence is not yummy!

Though when a creature tastes you, they’re sure to spit you out,
There’s  something even better that your light is all about!

You’re looking for a sweetie when you flash your little glow,
and when you synchronize in groups, it’s like a disco show!

How I loved to chase you when I was just a kid,
and I’d catch you in a jar with holes poked in its lid.

That wasn’t nice of me. It must have caused you fright.
You were only lending magic to my summer night.

How I miss you, lightning bug, known as firefly.
And how I wish that I could see you in this western sky.

Even in the Midwest state that I left behind
I hear you are becoming more difficult to find.

Too many fields paved over; no places you can hide.
Too many lights from people and too much pesticide.

People use their headlights; this is confusing you.
Your blinking light gets all mixed up. You don’t know what to do.

Fewer are the places where, dear firefly, you can stay.
How sorry we will all be when your magic fades away!


Written July 16, 2016 for the contest of  David Lindsay
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016

Poem

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Arnone Avatar
July 28, 2016 at 12:03 PM
Love it, Andrea. I have a special place for those friendly, ancient, starry beetles, along with the dwindling bees, horseshoe crabs and endangered others. :-)
Gitas Avatar
July 28, 2016 at 6:03 AM
Nice poem :)
Lamoureux Avatar
July 25, 2016 at 8:00 AM
One of my favorites, congrats Andrea.
Haight Avatar
July 24, 2016 at 6:44 PM
Nice tribute to fireflies, Andrea. We have so many here where I live. I still love watching! Nice poem, and congrats on your win. Hugs, Sandra
Gregory Avatar
July 23, 2016 at 1:41 PM
A lovely poem you use the form well It'ss touching tribute show how man contribute To there changing fortune. Nicely done
Chansarkar Avatar
July 23, 2016 at 9:14 AM
Absolutely loved this one,congrats on your win Andrea!
Canerdy Avatar
July 23, 2016 at 8:16 AM
This is a great poem, Andrea. It's very descriptive and skillfully-written, and the choice of theme is thoughtful and clearly conveyed--a 7. Janice
Canerdy Avatar
July 23, 2016 at 8:17 AM
Oh, congratulations on your well-deserved win--meant to say above! Janice
U.D Palawon  Avatar
July 22, 2016 at 11:17 PM
Congrat on your win Andrea, you so beautifully brought this issue of firefly up. Thanks for making us conscious. I've seen fireflies here in my island, very rare though.
Gasun Avatar
July 20, 2016 at 10:01 AM
An superb poem and a very delightful to read my dear friend, Andrea! Love it and enjoyed. A winner for me. Thanks a lot for sharing! Have a wonderful week my dear friend. love and hug, Leonora
Leiser Avatar
July 19, 2016 at 3:50 PM
Loved this! I just saw fireflies for the first time in June! I fell in love with them :)
Lamoureux Avatar
July 19, 2016 at 7:42 AM
This is a special piece with a significant message!
Grasso Avatar
July 19, 2016 at 7:01 AM
I like it! Love the way it rhymes! .... we still have them here in Western New York. ... Fran
Marcum Wong Avatar
July 19, 2016 at 6:31 AM
Oh Andrea...thiis poem is so delightful. I feel sure it will garner a top placement! I loved it! Please share it at PFT if you haven't already. 7 ; )
Daniel Avatar
July 19, 2016 at 5:02 AM
Fireflies create magic as do your words in this write:)
Anish Avatar
July 18, 2016 at 7:01 PM
Used to catch them and put them in bottles for a lamp. O the summer nights of youth! Nice poem! Peace & Love Matthew Anish
Onclaud Avatar
July 18, 2016 at 5:02 PM
what a beauty, andie..i have always been mesmerized by fireflies!... mail soon and huggs
Chakrabarty Avatar
July 18, 2016 at 1:20 PM
Andrea I have seen last firefly thirty years ago in a countryside. Are they extinct?
Y. Avatar
July 18, 2016 at 12:39 PM
Hi Andrea, You painted a lovely picture with words. I could envision right there chasing a firefly. Excellent job. You should shine bright in the contest. I got a feeling I will see you in the winners circle. Good luck in the contest.A Big seven:-) Alexis
Austin Avatar
July 18, 2016 at 11:47 AM
When we lived in the country I used to gake firefly walks every night. Wonderful picture. Love, dver
Eastman Avatar
July 18, 2016 at 10:39 AM
We still have lightening bugs at our house. I love to watch them glow... Nice piece.
Babcock Avatar
July 18, 2016 at 10:18 AM
Yes I remember catching these when I was young. Put them in a jar and see if they would light up and then release. Wonderful poem bringing back memories. love phyl
Wigley Avatar
July 18, 2016 at 6:15 AM
As is often the case when time goes by, it is the little things we miss. Lovely write, Andrea, I'm sure it will do well. Glow, girl! Viv x
Apell Avatar
July 17, 2016 at 11:42 PM
Sweetly nostalgic lines with the glow of a giant firefly... I see you know quite a lot about them. Never knew anything about them beyond the glow. Glad to learn!
Smith Avatar
July 17, 2016 at 8:52 PM
I love the firefly Andrea. I saw them out in abundance last night. Lovely poem
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