I love firefly. It takes me back to my childhood. This year I bought “firefly jars” from Backyard Safari for my grandchildren. It has lots of holes in the lid. The children keep them over night and release them in the morning.
Yes, fireflies tend to bring us back to our childhood. “Firefly jars” – hmm, what will they think of next 🙂 And that’s great what the kids are doing – enjoy nature’s wonders and set them free – lovely.
Wow! This is deeply beautiful. It is hard to make rhyming poems seem relevant and serious, but this had deep meaning and you pulled it off well. This is my favorite so far of your poems I’ve read. Keep writing and sharing!
Wow! Maryam,
You are digging through the archives.
Glad you found Firefly and enjoyed it enough to post a comment. Thank you dear.
All good wishes,
Eric
I think It’s natural for children to be cruel to an extent especially little boys I know I was and so were all the other kids. Now I don’t like to hurt anything if possible.
such innocence eloquently captured, this reminds of your wise and soothing comment when i wrote “pink”…about that childhood mishap with the baby bird…thank you for your kindness, you don’t know how much guilt you finally alleviated…
I love this poem. I wrote about this on a English Paper with a few others. It always make laugh, the ignorance of people. Brilliant. Thanks for Liking our post. Hope to see you back soon.
Very true George. That is what I always say – look into the mirror. Each will see and take away something different – depending on one’s level of intellectual spiritual development. All good wishes, Eric
Alas, for all the little bright lights of people’s abilities that die because they are forced to glow all the time by other people who want only the light. A slower death across time than the short-lived death of the firefly :(.
I wonder as children, how many of us killed insects deliberately, out of ignorance or by accident. How many adults are doing so even now…how many lost lessons, I wonder…
What I gathered in this poem is that wisdom consists in studying the nature of people and things, how they operate, before initiating action that is consistent with the way they are made, or the way they behave.
Of course you need to make holes in the lid with a long nail and a rock! And then you put in grass and various leaves in there for the fireflies to munch on. And then maybe they live for an hour. I don’t know what the lesson is other than to leave the poor fireflies alone. But for a kid, catching them to try to have a little light in your room when you went to sleep, to keep fireflies as your special pet, was too great a temptation.
The pain I feel:
I can’t conceal-
I “think” I can heal.
Our thinking that we can heal or make things better is subjective -from our point of view to make the conscience feel better- the firefly may not die with a hole in the lid but that is not where it belongs.
Hello Loni – posted a comment in your Night. Hope you can catch it this time. Go to your comments, click open the ‘spam’ folder on the top line of the page 🙂
Anyway, here it is > Some nights I feel this way too
Very true – most would prefer not to think of the victim. Perhaps if the lesson is well learnt, that life sacrificed would have had meaning…if we repeat the error, the value of that sacrifice becomes worthless.
cute cute cute…And i will not look in between the lines..this is just too cute so will just enjoy the rhyme..
I love rhymes…and this was so much fun
Aww poor kiddo but kids do all these things like putting a caterpillar in a jar,and when taught properly they learn that to enjoy you dont have to cage things 🙂
Firstly, I agree with you – my wife always chides me (in a nice way) that I have enough seriousness in me for both of us plus plus 😦
Sometimes, we just need to slip off our shoes, put up our feet and enjoy verse and rhyme – and Eric, stop being so painfully metaphorical! It is bad for your…brains, I think! – Maybe you wanted to say this, maybe not – but there, I’ve said it for you 🙂 🙂 🙂
You are right Soma dear, – nature can be best relished in nature > not when contained in some man made cage
“Some people never learn – know of any? There is a metaphor hidden deep…” — I like that perhaps even more than the poem, but without the poem, that sentence would lose most of its charm, well written!
I believe everyone – every single person – had killed insects accidentally or even deliberately…though some might pretend not – a poor reflection on them
It is indeed a beautiful poetry with the facts of how humans are trying to solve their problem. Some found it, but some can’s found it.
This reminds me of
1. My dad felt sad upon learning my toddler wanted me to free the green bug that my dad caught in a plastic. After my toddler took a close look at the bug, he asked me to let it go.
2. A butterfly entered my living room. My mum caught it, show it to my toddler, and then let it free upon his request after he had a good look at it.
After I think about these cases, your poetry resonates with my son who love nature on its own.
This is a positive approach always – memories and learning. Cheers, Eric
P/s Posted a comment in your recent post. In case it didn’t come through, here it is > You are right. Children are like clay – often moulded by family and society and some very poorly. Inspite of this, we also get lovely lillies growing in a brackish pond
I know enough of your style to see the metaphor in this post and got the hint from your reply above.
Politicians still look for answers to the world’s problems in a gun barrel, with some tweaking of the words that call for war (holes in the jar) – whether in the name of some strange god, nationalism, ideology…whatever. Though they cry, all too soon they forget. Mother – mother in this case is history, one’s so-called experience, one’s wisdom, one’s conscience/spiritualism, whatever…but not many listen to her…
There are no right or wrongs Jasey dear. As I’ve always maintained – all peer into the mirror and each sees something different. No one is ‘wrong’ as they see what is ‘right’ for them.
You can take this post in its literal sense – and very right you’ll be too. Some even took it as something I did as a kid > just because it is written in the first person….Lol!
I thought I had made the post too vague but glad it came through enough for you to have captured it so well.
I love firefly. It takes me back to my childhood. This year I bought “firefly jars” from Backyard Safari for my grandchildren. It has lots of holes in the lid. The children keep them over night and release them in the morning.
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Hello Sheryl,
Yes, fireflies tend to bring us back to our childhood. “Firefly jars” – hmm, what will they think of next 🙂 And that’s great what the kids are doing – enjoy nature’s wonders and set them free – lovely.
All good wishes,
Eric
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Wow! This is deeply beautiful. It is hard to make rhyming poems seem relevant and serious, but this had deep meaning and you pulled it off well. This is my favorite so far of your poems I’ve read. Keep writing and sharing!
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Wow! Maryam,
You are digging through the archives.
Glad you found Firefly and enjoyed it enough to post a comment. Thank you dear.
All good wishes,
Eric
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Sad, but at least you learned that valuable lesson from the firefly, and not a person….. same can be said with matters of the heart….. 🙂
Celeste
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Children do plenty for various reasons – and learn from it.
It’s another matter when as adults, they deny ever having done naughty things – or worse, continue to do it as adults.
Peace, Eric
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I couldnt agree more…. 🙂
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I think It’s natural for children to be cruel to an extent especially little boys I know I was and so were all the other kids. Now I don’t like to hurt anything if possible.
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Same here Dennis – as a kid, I’ve killed quite a few critters. Not anymore – and I go out of my way to ensure no harm comes to any insects even.
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Very nice Eric. Found your blog while browsing Subhan Zein’s blog. Following to stay in touch.
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Thank you Nifti and welcome aboard. Left a comment in your post Scarlet.
Cheers, Eric
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Well thought out.
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Thank you. Glad you found it so :-0
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such innocence eloquently captured, this reminds of your wise and soothing comment when i wrote “pink”…about that childhood mishap with the baby bird…thank you for your kindness, you don’t know how much guilt you finally alleviated…
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Thank you Que – this is innocence portrayed, the innocence of a child. A rite that all of us went through. Peace, Eric
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I love this poem. I wrote about this on a English Paper with a few others. It always make laugh, the ignorance of people. Brilliant. Thanks for Liking our post. Hope to see you back soon.
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Firefly in a jar or one’s palms has been the genesis for many poems and snippets. Glad you like mine.
As for laughing at ignorance > see it all around. A good place to start would be city hall, I reckon.
P/s I left a comment in you Lifes intricacies – please check your blog spam folder.
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We really don’t need to look any further than the mirror, and then make the effort to learn and transform. Great post, Eric!
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Very true George. That is what I always say – look into the mirror. Each will see and take away something different – depending on one’s level of intellectual spiritual development. All good wishes, Eric
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Alas, for all the little bright lights of people’s abilities that die because they are forced to glow all the time by other people who want only the light. A slower death across time than the short-lived death of the firefly :(.
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I relish such comments, the ability to convey thoughts with such poetic elegance.
Thank you very much, Eric 🙂
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Oh no! He killed the firefly…with love and admiration and a desire to keep it to himself. Lesson learnt … I hope.
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Yes bad boy…
I wonder as children, how many of us killed insects deliberately, out of ignorance or by accident. How many adults are doing so even now…how many lost lessons, I wonder…
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What I gathered in this poem is that wisdom consists in studying the nature of people and things, how they operate, before initiating action that is consistent with the way they are made, or the way they behave.
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Yes, such observation and reflection helps us grow in many way. Peace, Eric 🙂
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Of course you need to make holes in the lid with a long nail and a rock! And then you put in grass and various leaves in there for the fireflies to munch on. And then maybe they live for an hour. I don’t know what the lesson is other than to leave the poor fireflies alone. But for a kid, catching them to try to have a little light in your room when you went to sleep, to keep fireflies as your special pet, was too great a temptation.
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As kids we’ve done alot of things, though some adults might have faded memories…
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The pain I feel:
I can’t conceal-
I “think” I can heal.
Our thinking that we can heal or make things better is subjective -from our point of view to make the conscience feel better- the firefly may not die with a hole in the lid but that is not where it belongs.
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Very true Aparna – people sometimes feel they know what is best for others…
Thanks for those 3 lines – lovely 🙂 Rhymes and hides a truth too.
You should do more. Cheers, Eric
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Too bad all humans have to learn about life at the expense of other forms of life, and sometimes to our own hurt.
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Very true Ian.
But many simply don’t learn do they…a huge gap yawns between knowing and doing something about it
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love it
thanks for sharing
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Thank you for your visit and comment. Cheers.
P/S I posted a comment in your art post Mystic. It is beautiful and shows your obvious talent
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I havent seen any comment but thank you so much!
I appreciate it
I love what I do
😉
Loni
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Hello Loni – posted a comment in your Night. Hope you can catch it this time. Go to your comments, click open the ‘spam’ folder on the top line of the page 🙂
Anyway, here it is > Some nights I feel this way too
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Not all see a true reflection in the mirror nor in the repeating patterns in their lives..much love buddy xxx
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Very true. Instead of looking with open eyes, many seek something specific and not finding it, move on. Thanks buddy Jane 🙂
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Although sad, a sweet poem and a lesson learned
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If the lesson is well learned – then, the life sacrificed is a life well-lived, I reckon
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Yes without a doubt
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Very affective. Something to think…Could return beautiful memories, but never, to our captives. I rather not think, being the victim, hm!
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Very true – most would prefer not to think of the victim. Perhaps if the lesson is well learnt, that life sacrificed would have had meaning…if we repeat the error, the value of that sacrifice becomes worthless.
P/S I posted a comment in your blogpost > Hopes
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Ah yes it’s now I checked . Thanks
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cute cute cute…And i will not look in between the lines..this is just too cute so will just enjoy the rhyme..
I love rhymes…and this was so much fun
Aww poor kiddo but kids do all these things like putting a caterpillar in a jar,and when taught properly they learn that to enjoy you dont have to cage things 🙂
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Firstly, I agree with you – my wife always chides me (in a nice way) that I have enough seriousness in me for both of us plus plus 😦
Sometimes, we just need to slip off our shoes, put up our feet and enjoy verse and rhyme – and Eric, stop being so painfully metaphorical! It is bad for your…brains, I think! – Maybe you wanted to say this, maybe not – but there, I’ve said it for you 🙂 🙂 🙂
You are right Soma dear, – nature can be best relished in nature > not when contained in some man made cage
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Ah, some people are slow learners. (Poor firefly!) To make a mistake is human, to keep repeating it is foolish.
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Very true – yet our so called leaders happily keep repeating the mistakes…
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Sad..The last four lines give a different ending from what was expected. A well-expressed poem..
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Some people never learn – they always believe this time it is different, this time – they got it right!
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I should rather say…. “almost as much as I like the poem” 🙂
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Thank you for dropping by. Have a good week ahead, Eric 🙂
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“Some people never learn – know of any? There is a metaphor hidden deep…” — I like that perhaps even more than the poem, but without the poem, that sentence would lose most of its charm, well written!
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I don’t know how I missed this comment — but better late than —-
Happy that you found the tease intriguing.
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Just me….if applicable, please despam me….thanks so, so much for your help!
Celeste
😀
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Strange that I found this in my spam folder. Should be okay from now on, I hope. Eric 🙂
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Ah a mistake many a young child has made…enjoyed the poem.
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I believe everyone – every single person – had killed insects accidentally or even deliberately…though some might pretend not – a poor reflection on them
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It is indeed a beautiful poetry with the facts of how humans are trying to solve their problem. Some found it, but some can’s found it.
This reminds me of
1. My dad felt sad upon learning my toddler wanted me to free the green bug that my dad caught in a plastic. After my toddler took a close look at the bug, he asked me to let it go.
2. A butterfly entered my living room. My mum caught it, show it to my toddler, and then let it free upon his request after he had a good look at it.
After I think about these cases, your poetry resonates with my son who love nature on its own.
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This is a great reflection on how well you are nurturing your child. We need more such parents…
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I’m trying hard to be a good parent to my toddler.
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This sure brought up some nice memories of catching fireflies and playing as a kid. Thank you. We learn a lot from nature on life I believe!
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This is a positive approach always – memories and learning. Cheers, Eric
P/s Posted a comment in your recent post. In case it didn’t come through, here it is > You are right. Children are like clay – often moulded by family and society and some very poorly. Inspite of this, we also get lovely lillies growing in a brackish pond
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Eric I think a good portion of the human species falls into the “never seems to learn” category LOL….myself included about some things.
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“…myself included about some things…”
I say this in all sincerity – the fact that you say this publicly, reveals your humility and how far you are ahead of most people, I reckon.
All good wishes from a person whose respect you’ve earned, Eric
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🙂 Thank you. I think it’s important to acknowledge where we need to grow so we….grow!
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I know enough of your style to see the metaphor in this post and got the hint from your reply above.
Politicians still look for answers to the world’s problems in a gun barrel, with some tweaking of the words that call for war (holes in the jar) – whether in the name of some strange god, nationalism, ideology…whatever. Though they cry, all too soon they forget. Mother – mother in this case is history, one’s so-called experience, one’s wisdom, one’s conscience/spiritualism, whatever…but not many listen to her…
Hope I am right 🙂
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There are no right or wrongs Jasey dear. As I’ve always maintained – all peer into the mirror and each sees something different. No one is ‘wrong’ as they see what is ‘right’ for them.
You can take this post in its literal sense – and very right you’ll be too. Some even took it as something I did as a kid > just because it is written in the first person….Lol!
I thought I had made the post too vague but glad it came through enough for you to have captured it so well.
Great big hugz specially for you, Eric 🙂
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Yes. Only closed minds can do that kind of thing. Let us learn from mistakes. Let us unlearn and relearn true nature including the divine self.
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You are right. As children – it is probably ignorance. As adults > closed minds – just see the battlefields of the world…all happening right now.
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as children we do these cruel things if there is no adult to guide us. most of us regret it for the rest of our lives but dont repeat it.
the poem was really, really painful eric.
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Yes, I believe all of us made such mistakes when we were kids. As long as we learn and move on…
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thats the only consolation for the regrets that keep haunting 😦
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Poor she; her life had to be the price for you to a learn the right way:(
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Interesting comment.
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beautiful thought captured in your words…everything is beautiful till its free… clutching down the freedom clips its beauty…
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Very true Soumya dear > nature is to be admired in its raw beauty, not caged and cajoled to perform tricks
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Re: Some people never learn – know of any?
————————
Yep! Conservative Republicans.
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*** LOL ***
We in Singapore also have our share of such politicians.
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