95 Fireflies

 

 

 

 

PHOTOS © HELLORF ZCOOL / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

“First is the journey from God,
then the journey to God.
Last is the journey in God.”
—Sufi tradition

Fireflies

Crossing a field in darkness
we slid into like
delicious swimming

feeling our way without eyes
sifting strands of dark
like falling butterflies

we found a hedge alight
with fireflies
drops of light

like crazy raindrops
skittering
in all directions.

We wanted to see those
dancers of light, imagined them
white-winged,

holding their lanterns high,
plunged our fists into thorns
captured worms.

That might have been the moment
I lost you,
encountered

a dual world
knew myself
separate from the sun.

I began the journey back
to find you, toiling upstream
on rivers of light

in my rowing-boat-body
didn’t notice the rivers
were your veins

your arteries
sun rising and setting
blink of your eye.

JENI COUZYN

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