FIREFLIES Kaleena Cote When I was young and it was dark I used to sneak outside A Mason jar, a flimsy net Impossible to hide The fireflies, theyd float about Theyd flicker dim then bright Id swoop my net amongst the weeds A carefree summer night My grin would stretch from ear to ear As I weaved through the grass Id slip the bugs into the jar Theyd tink, tink, tink the glass I cant explain the awe I felt A simple joy to hold But feelings like that often fade Or so I had been told When I grew up I missed those years Despised the daily grind Longed for those happy moments back Fireflies on my mind And then somehow you just appeared You flickered dim then bright You caught me by surprise just as I caught those bugs that night You make me grin from ear to ear You make me strive for more You listen and you never judge You tink, tink, tink my core I cant explain the awe I feel A simple joy again To have you in my life right now A firefly, my friend