WeRead Powered by ReaderPub

Muse and Mint cover

Muse and Mint

Chapter 4: FIREFLIES

By Walter Seymour Percy

Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

About This Book

A varied collection of short lyrical poems that observes nature and rural life, using seasonal imagery—sap, snow, rivers, cherries—and simple domestic scenes to reflect on change, beauty, and small joys. Sections shift between fireside recollections, sentimental and philosophical meditations, homiletic and religious pieces, and light humor, blending devotional songlike verses with moral aphorisms and affectionate memory. The voice moves between wistful and buoyant moods, finding consolation and ethical insight in commonplace experiences, while concise stanzas and vivid images emphasize mood and moral reflection rather than a continuous narrative.

NATURE

FIREFLIES

The murky night hung dank and dark

The Summer shower after;

A distant dog’s staccato bark

Disturbed the strollers’ laughter;

The mournful whip-poor-will’s lament,

The frogs’ and crickets’ chorus

A weird, sepulchral feeling lent

To meadow-lot and morass.

A thousand insect-lanterns flashed

Their phosphorescent signals

Of living sparks that dot-and-dashed

Out swift electric riddles;

For scarcely was the eye upon

A single tiny glowlight

When wink, it flitted and was gone

Like prankish imp on show-night!

And while one guessed its next surprise

Afar from where it dwindled

A myriad others to the eyes

All intercrossed and kindled

Until the ghostly gloom became

Illumined with manœuvres

As though of fairies fanning flame

Within a park of lovers.

And thus does fancy people night

With fugitive creations

Of phantom-folk whose fitful light

Yet feeds our inspirations

And teaches us there is no dark

But fellowships the presence

Of every soul that sheds its spark

Of humble incandescence.