Firefly

 I'd never seen one before,

     up close, or held one in my hand.

But that summer of loss,

     when I saw you walk away,

on that street 3000 miles to the East,

     I couldn't know that would be the last time

my eyes would see you shine.

But that evening,

distancing myself from all,

I wandered in a deep green backyard and the fireflies emerged.

With the inherited awe of a child, 

I reached out and they came to me,

Fireflies,

When our life together ended,

     I left behind fireflies.