At twilight I caught

a flash of yellow light

The firefly blinked and vanished

Alert, I watched for more

But only one

brought the dusk

alive with its light

Memories from childhood

when evening hills glimmered

 with countless fireflies

Pure magic

Now few, they share a fate

with bees and frogs and birds

So sad that single

lonely light

brought a tear

as I settled into dusk.

Dusk at Reelfoot Lake
photography by Lisa Ernst