There were many lessons to be learned,
Beside the pondÖbeneath the trees;
But, this time it would be different,
For it was night time nowÖyou see.

I sat down upon the cool grass,
Felt through itÖwith my fingers;
It had been a hot, summer day,
But, nowÖin the coolÖI lingered.

Listen to the sounds that ënightí makes,
Thereís a hushÖall around;
The ëdaytimeí noisesÖsilenced,
Peace and tranquilityÖabound.

Such a dark night,
The darkest of all times;
Where could the moon be,
ForÖinto the heavensÖit did not climb?

A dark night holds many mysteries,
To learn its secretsÖmy intent;
When seeking out its treasures,
Our time is very well-spent.

And thenÖa twinkleÖtwinkle,
A tinyÖflashing light;
More like a sparkleÖit was,
At first it gave me quite a fright!

What was this tinyÖspark of light,
QuickÖand then it was gone;
And nowÖmore tiny lights,
Tiny lightsÖoffÖthen on.

My child imagination,
Away with meÖdid run;
You knowÖthat little child,
The one who has all the fun!

Are these lights little lanterns,
Carried by ëweeí fairies;
SupposeÖ they like to get about,
And, in the darkÖno need to tarry?

Could they be ëlittle elves,
Who travel only by night;
When the ëBIGí people are sleep,
Thatís when they take flight?

OrÖmaybeÖper chance leprechauns,
Only in IrelandÖweíve been told;
SearchingÖforever searching,
For that infamous pot of gold?

Are these twinkling little lights,
SeenÖ only in the mind of a child;
OrÖmaybe seen by an adult,
If they let their mind run wild?

BothÖI have discovered,
They can be seen by everyone;
For they are * FIREFLIES *Öyou know,
And, they can be seen by anyone.

So, what is their purpose,
Why do we see them just at night?
Why are they on the planet,
ExceptÖjust for pure delight?!

Who was it that discovered,
That * FIREFLIES * can be caught;
When put into a bottle,
Theyíd light up a roomÖlike 1,000 watts?

After that discovery,
What do you supposeÖI did?
WhyÖI went out each night,
Filled my bottle and closed the lid.

Of courseÖ the lid had many holes,
* FIREFLIES * need to breatheÖyou know;
A little bit of grass addedÖfor their comfort,
And, they just glowed and glowed!

I took the bottle to my room,
They lit it upÖbright as day;
What a way to fall asleep,
I can think of no better way!

In the morningÖ with the dawn,
And, so much to my surprise;
I looked at my bottleÖand,
There was nothing inside!

What happened during the night,
When I was fast asleep;
Did ëlittleí people set them free,
Were they watching and their vigil keep?

But, alas ëtwas no such thing,
I foundÖin later years;
It was my Mom who set them free,
Before day-break did draw near!

********

October 5, 2003

Aimee Love
(LHG)