Palimpsest

Fireflies

The night lies still as death,

Mists curling round cattails and willows.

A tattered moon plays hide-and-seek

With galleon clouds, sails unfurled

Against a spray of stars.

Nightjars and swallows on the hunt

Flash from tree to branch, unerring,

Taking fearsome toll of other flight-bound creatures.

And naught but gloaming lights this narrow track

Arched above with leaves of darkened shade

Save the haunting flicker of fireflies

Mimicking the arching firmament.

This night is one to recall when

Snow lies deep,

Ice is on the waters,

The birds fled south,

And fireflies all gone to ground

Til summoned once more to light my way.

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