Fireflies, the Children of War
The planet glows radiant with tiny sparks of light
They light our lives, they light our souls, they touch our hearts
Their beauty sparkles, lighting the blackest night
They are our eternal light
We dream of catching them on a cool summers night, wanting them to light our lives, wanting them to be near
They give us strength in the cold, dark vastness
Their voice soft and sweet, we long to feel, we long to hear, we long to see them
They inspire us as they dance through the night
The bug screen lined with a thousand lights, dancing and singing their sweet songs
We cheerish them in our hearts
Yet when dawn arises, they are gone
Left behind is a world of destruction, pain, and suffering
Their tender bodies limp
Children cannot understand why hope and happiness must die
They built a grave with their little soft hands
Laying them to rest, like the war victims, like her mother
Droping in one by one the lifeless joys of childhood
Gone forever, beneath the earth
She built a grave, like her mother's
Tears streak her cheeks, as she cries, "Why do fireflies have to die so soon?"
Fireflies are those little ones we love dearly
Those whom we charish, those who die horrible deaths in hate and suffering
Why does war end this way?
Why do fireflies die so soon?
-Jenni Kirby
(Inspired by Grave of the Fireflies)
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