The flickering lights of fireflies

Canopy of the trees above

Stars and the moon in the beautiful night sky

Their lights mocking me when I try to catch them

Mocking me

Mocking me

Dim light tonight

The sun is gone

The moon has risen

All around me darkness

Only fireflies

Only fireflies

The birds are silenced

Soft buzzing like the bees are tired

Grasshoppers chirping

A smooth breeze

"Whoosh"

"Whoosh"

Why are the fireflies afraid of me?

Why don't they like the limp light?

What can I do to catch them?

How can I make them stay?

Stay

Stay

Wonder when I see the starry sky

Joy when I catch my first firefly

Amazement when my brother catches five

Sad when we let them go

Goodbye

Goodbye

The moist grass between my toes

The swift breeze in my hair

Bark of the maple tree as rough as blacktop

Their gentle wings tickling my hands

Gentle Wings

Gentle Wings

Elizabeth Leiser

Age 10, Grade 5

Weisenberg Elementary School

Northwestern Lehigh School District