Fireflies

Tennessee summer,
people sitting on their front porches.
In the heat of day,
sipping iced tea and
talking about the weather
last winter.

The fireflies cling to their
secret hiding places,
waiting for the gloaming,
that time when
Sun
begins to falter
and darkness
overwhelms
the glowing embers of sky.

The dense, cool sweetness of night
waits to be ushered in.

Then, when the time is right,
they emerge,
beginning their
mesmerizing
ritual dance.
The stars
must be persuaded
to join
the night sky.

So, twinkle little ones,
the dense, cool sweetness of night
waits to be ushered in.

11/2/04