Clinton Van Inman’s most recent poem to appear here was Uncle (March 2012).

Fire Flies
By Clinton Van Inman

They glitter and glow like flashing stars
The fire flies we chase in summer’s sky.
With some power we can not understand
We try to catch them and hold in hand
Yet can only watch and wonder why
The ones we catch and place in jars
Will not shine and seem to refuse
Until we open the jar and turn them loose.
And just like us, whether a fly or kid
No light shines under glass or lid.