Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Lightning Bugs


I chased them
two-fisted
with open jars
and sometimes
hands, hoping
for glow on
demand, until I
understood that
their pilgrimage
lasted a lifetime
or but a moment,
flashing in trees,
hovering above
flowers in dusk,
illuminating hope.

This poem is submitted for One Shot Wednesday hosted by One Stop Poetry. To see more poems, please visit the site. The links will be live at 4 p.m. Central time today.
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27 comments:

  1. Anne Lang BundyMay 3, 2011 at 12:07 PM

    It's been a while since you wrote something to make me cry, Glynn. I suddenly think of Karin "HisFirefly" in a completely different light ... and of myself too.

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  2. Ann KroekerMay 3, 2011 at 12:37 PM

    Fleeting fistfuls of light...such a strong summer childhood memory of my own.

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  3. MaureenMay 3, 2011 at 12:43 PM

    I like the bit of internal rhyme ("hands" with "demand"), and your combination of the child's belief that we can command "glow on demand" with the adult understanding of "illuminating hope". "Two-fisted / with open jars" is a wonderful image. Lovely poem, Glynn.

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  4. HisFireFlyMay 3, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    Thank you for thinking of me Anne! Glynn, how could I help but love this.. with a nickname like FireFly...

    no one can capture me or hold me in their hand except for God Himself

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  5. UnknownMay 3, 2011 at 2:19 PM

    Ahhhh...memories...thanks Bro'

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  6. Karen Kyle EricsonMay 3, 2011 at 2:30 PM

    I'm so jealous of the firefly photo! I've been trying to shoot them since last year. Love the poem too. How fun!

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  7. Brian MillerMay 3, 2011 at 4:11 PM

    delicious man...i spent many a nigh chasing fire flies up on our hill....

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  8. AnonymousMay 3, 2011 at 4:16 PM

    Beautiful said...

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  9. ValerieMay 3, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    I retweeted this earlier but didn't leave a comment. Great images.

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  10. dustusMay 3, 2011 at 4:39 PM

    Wonderfully written and brought back memories of summer nights as a child. Thank you, Glynn

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  11. Kodjo DeynooMay 3, 2011 at 4:48 PM

    As for many one, your poem, for me also reminds the sweet childhood, thanks for blew me back in the days. Excellent written.

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  12. S. EtoleMay 3, 2011 at 5:09 PM

    So much more there than just the memories it brings back ...

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  13. LeslieMay 3, 2011 at 6:04 PM

    oh, you took me right back to childhood summers, and you ended with

    "illuminating hope."

    love that.

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  14. AnonymousMay 3, 2011 at 6:45 PM

    i REALLY LIKE that photo!!!!
    and the poem too!

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  15. ayalaMay 3, 2011 at 7:04 PM

    Love it!

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  16. LauraMay 3, 2011 at 7:17 PM

    "their pilgrimage
    lasted a lifetime
    or but a moment" perhaps this is true of all of us? Just this moment.

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  17. UnknownMay 3, 2011 at 7:43 PM

    Freedom and hope are such universal truths. If only everyone was as wise with their jars.

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  18. AnonymousMay 3, 2011 at 8:07 PM

    "flashing in trees,
    hovering above
    flowers in dusk,
    illuminating hope."

    I'm dancing in the night air along with you... loved the ending.

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  19. JoannMay 3, 2011 at 9:19 PM

    I love the images and memories your poem conjures up of past summer evenings and night's beautiful surprises. That touch of hope sums up it's loveliness.

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  20. JerryMay 3, 2011 at 9:33 PM

    Beautiful. Univeral truths that cannot be held by a mason jar.

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  21. UnknownMay 3, 2011 at 9:41 PM

    Terrific piece, Glynn.

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  22. Duane ScottMay 3, 2011 at 11:29 PM

    Favorite poem to date.

    This one goes in that book you're writing.

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  23. Violet N.May 4, 2011 at 12:12 AM

    Your last line nails the poem for me. Nicely done... only wish I lived in a place where we had such things.

    Violet

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  24. wandererMay 4, 2011 at 4:39 AM

    smiled like a kid the moment I completed your sweet small poem..keep writing :)

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  25. AnonymousMay 4, 2011 at 6:57 AM

    One of your best Glynn. "sometimes hands", I just adored it. Took me right there on the chase with you.

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  26. Vinay Leo R.May 4, 2011 at 6:59 AM

    Oh what a beautiful photograph, and poetry to match :) Thank you for sharing!

    My One Shot Poem

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  27. Ann GrenierMay 4, 2011 at 9:07 PM

    Your simple words and images capture the delicacy and wonder of the fireflies and the metaphor you make of them. Thank you.

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