Fireflies At Night

Fireflies at night, dancing over head,
Bathing in the light, near the river bed,
Reaching hands of youth, stretching toward the endless skies,
Trying to catch a falling star, their twinkle in his eyes,
Fireflies at night, avoiding the child’s net,
I watch him run and play, a night he will never forget,
Tumbling in the grass, foot prints in the sand,
Youth such as this, adults could not understand,
Fireflies at night, skimming upon the water,
The little boy could almost get them, if he could reach a little bit farther,
The trees begin to sway now, with laughter and delight,
The water splashes playfully, mocking the little boy’s plight,
Fireflies at night, huddled within the air,
Drifting towards the heavens, without a worry or a care,
The little boy catches one; his hands grow bright within,
But then he lets it go, and chases it again,
Fireflies at night, the little boy falls within the grass,
I walk over and lay with him; I couldn’t help but ask,
“You spend all night chasing them, only to let them go,”
The little boy laughs and says, “Adults will never know,”
Fireflies at night, beauty hard to comprehend,
Beauty such as this, cannot be held in your hand,
The little boy knows this, and that is what he has taught me,
That there are things in life meant to hold, and some things are best left free…

Jeremy King © April 11, 2004