Ode to Owl City's Fireflies

I bid farewell to acrid August,

when my peers’ rude words drove me to tears.

I wished the earth would stop its turning,

I came right here to forget my fears.

I stretched my legs in Starlight Square,                          

beneath the famous figgy tree.

Often, the cold sags my soul,

now I’m free and full of glee.

 

Fireflies flashed before my eyes,

when I raised my dark-haired face.

If I crave some stunning shapes,

I came to the ideal place.

 

Tonight, 'ten thousand' light the night,

about to throw a show to remember.

My beams are bursting at my seams,

as so much came for September.

 

Some flies feel too shy to shine.

Some cool their heat and dull their flames.

They may melt into a mushy mess.

Oh, their deaths are such a shame!

 

They salsa, shimmy, and 'sock hop'.

They jete and jive in flocks of five.

Just like a jar of lemonade,

they make me feel more alive.

 

They glow a lovely lemon yellow;

light (up) the stage like buttercups.

Galloping like giddy goats,

unstrapped from their scratchy stirrups.

 

They flutter upwards, flushing fuchsia.

They curve into a cute sweetheart

I widely smiled at their grace and guile,

encouraged to create new art.

 

They soothe me with a smooth sea green,

and hop across the heady haze.

Flapping fins like gleeful guppies,

Casting hope for brighter days.

 

They then ignite an icy blue.

Freewheeling without a fuss.

Sparkling like fresh snowflakes,

their fancy flights bring me a buzz.

 

They careen into an ocean crest,

sucking in the concrete square.

They then swoop into a silver loop,

bestow a crown on my dark hair.

 

Once they wrapped around my head,

these bright bugs formed a sort of swarm.

I loved the bugs one thousand hugs,

they felt so welcoming and warm.

 

Although tomorrow will be busy,

How could I feel alarmed and stressed?

Cause with these friendly fireflies,

I just feel so calm and blessed.

 

The moon beamed down at me,

the poet in the parking lot.

Poised and pretty like a Queen,

in a right now private honey pot.

 

They healed my heart and helped me hope

As for next term, I could cope

Hello Everyone.

I hope you enjoyed reading this poem. I conceived it when I was lounging in the park bench, one summers evening. I set this poem in Starlight square, Cambridge, America, which was originally a parking lot. Recently, it was converted into a poets' stage and a marketplace. I chose Starlight Square, as I liked the magical, alliterative name, and it empowers poets to 'throw shows' and 'shine':

https://www.starlightsquare.org/

I also remembered feeling so enchanted by Owl City's Fireflies song, released in 2010. As a result, I sprinkled in some references from the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psuRGfAaju4

See if you can spot the references. If you find any, please tell us in the comments section. Lastly, please feel free to share your thoughts on this poem, as I'm always curious to learn, and inclined to improve my writing. Thank you again for reading my poem, and may all your days be bright and blissful.

From Rithika Nadipalli.