smell of a fire just extinguished
gasping the last breaths of warmth

full moon rising
over the rooftops

searching the heavens for
a particular point of light
among the stars
passing overhead
at any moment
the international space station
visible from our little corner
of the world

the night creatures
beginning their routine

tiny flashes among
the blades of grass
one flies up higher than the rest
it wants to be a star too

but there are no
fireflies in Idaho
they need a very particular
range of humidity
not usually found
west of the Mississippi

what a wondrous sight it must be
seeing them
for the first time as an adult
more so than seeing one as a child
where everything is new and magical

letting one settle on a hand
tickling with every step

catching a couple in a jar
watching them blink in code
to one another

-Kari Burchfield