Tish Davis

Fireflies

At summer’s dusk, we neighbor kids gather under the outdoor bulb on the pole behind our farmhouse and with hammer and nail vent the lids of any newcomer’s jar. 

the path
to the marrow—
the mower's cut
through what we call ours
curves around the pond

Only two of us are old enough to mow, old enough to secretly saw an arch in the neighbor’s row of osage orange. 

sharing secrets
with our fireflies . . .
after promising
to never tell
we let them go

unrehearsed
that moment when sprinkled
lanterns light
how still
we stand

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Note: First published in MacQueen’s Quinterly (Issue 2: March 2020)

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About the Author

Tish Davis lives in Northern Ohio. Her tanka and related forms have appeared in numerous online and print publications. When she isn’t busy with work and grandchildren she enjoys exploring the local parks with her husband and three dogs.