‘summer night…perfection of thought…’
with apologies to Wallace Stevens ~
Despite the rain, the fireflies flicker.
At the treeline, they hang in branches
diamante on blue so dark it burns.
Our house becomes a cottage
in the dark, shrinks strangely
in the summer heat, its recent build
only a mask for four walls and a fence.
A gentle lethargy falls on us – velvety,
still. Cicadas sing, moths dart into light.
The night descends.
No apology necessary to Wallace Stevens here. This is a beautiful and economical observation.
Thank you!
I loved this poem! Well done Britton. This is full of beautiful imagery and alliteration. I was quickly pulled into the poem at “Despite the rain, the firelies flicker.” Beautiful alliteration and I have seen that too! I love how you describe the sudden tiredness…”a gentle lethargy falls on us-velvety.” Beautiful description!
So soothing. It flows, with no forced use of the required words. I’d like to be there in this scene.
The first line raises my curiosity, –what is coming next? this is an interesting poem and the “next” flows nicely. I especially like that the ending settles softly. The question has been answered and the world is righted. Nice.