If I could catch a handful of fireflies,
I would let them light up my life,
Their iridescent view of affairs
Of the globe,
Opening a window into the world’s soul,
Permitting anyone a glimpse of reality,
As seen through a watercolor eye
Of cool blues and greens accented
With a touch of earth tones for humility.
I could make them into anything—
A flashlight whose beam could extend
From Earth to the Moon and then,
A searchlight crisscrossing the skies
Over the six foot high Hollywood sign,
A beacon staring out to sea
And guiding ships away from shore,
Or I could put them in a jar
And watch them light up
All night long until I fell asleep.
On and off, off and on
Their ceaseless compulsion to glow
Never fails to amaze me,
Even when they may not feel like lighting up,
Their tiny souls turn their bellies
On and off, off and on,
And I feel better just because
I know they are in the world.
Their gleaming green halo
Encircles me and I too begin to glow
From inside out, all about
And find myself unafraid of a world made
With creatures like these who ease
Me into each new day,
Having witnessed a small miracle
Of what we all call life.
Copyright 1999
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