The Secret Life of Fireflies

Posted on 2023-06-05 by Bartholomew Barker

After a day of sprinkler running
under the glistening sun
dark clouds swoop in from the west
with a sudden chilling air.

A flash in the darkened sky
and thunder menaces from afar.
The storm drapes and drenches the grass
completing our rain dance.

With a final rumble the tempest fades
and lightning bugs emerge from the trees
like stars from the scattering clouds.

This is another collaboration with my pals over at Charles House. We read a bunch of summer themed poetry like Frost’s Fireflies in the Garden, Williams’ Summer Song and Cummings’ Summer Silence then wrote the above.

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About Bartholomew Barker

Bartholomew Barker is an organizer of Living Poetry, a collection of poets in the Triangle region of North Carolina where he has hosted a monthly feedback workshop for more than decade. His first poetry collection, Wednesday Night Regular, written in and about strip clubs, was published in 2013. His second, Milkshakes and Chilidogs, a chapbook of food inspired poetry was served in 2017. He was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2021. Born and raised in Ohio, studied in Chicago, he worked in Connecticut for nearly twenty years before moving to Hillsborough where he lives and writes poetry.
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18 Responses to The Secret Life of Fireflies

  1. Cassa Bassa's avatar Cassa Bassa says:
    2023-06-05 at 19:50

    I particularly love the 2nd stanza, magical.

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  2. The Inkwell (Pankaj Kumar)'s avatar The Inkwell (Pankaj Kumar) says:
    2023-06-05 at 19:56

    My heart was flooded with warm memories of summer nights spent chasing fireflies after a refreshing rainstorm. Your words made my heart race and then left me feeling calm and serene. Thank you for sharing this delightful moment captured so artfully in verse! It truly brightened up my evening. 👍👏👌😊🙏

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  3. JeanMarie's avatar JeanMarie says:
    2023-06-05 at 21:37

    Lovely. 💜

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. anitashope's avatar anitashope says:
    2023-06-05 at 23:11

    A fun reminder of summer when I was young and chasing fireflies.

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  6. Michele Lee's avatar Michele Lee says:
    2023-06-06 at 00:26

    Really enjoyed this, Bart. ✨ Fascinating little creatures!

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. Kym Gordon Moore's avatar Kym Gordon Moore says:
    2023-06-08 at 21:29

    Fireflies are always so fascinating to me. Loved this poem Bartholomew! Bravo!!! 👏🏼💖👏🏼

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