Arkansas Fireflies

Arkansas heat steaming one summer evening

Humid

Fat mosquitoes swimming in our sweat

Long black hair held high in my left hand, my right is a languid fan

Wilting

Dropped my hair and reached for a tall lemonade

Window fans blowing on icehouse cubes in tubs

Salvation

Yellow curtains fighting to come untied

Chicken frying in a cast-iron skillet

Mama

Expert hands like lightning setting out six plates and hot sauce

Storm erupting in north sky, sun unrelenting in south

Hush

Folks say, “Devil is beating his wife”; I hope she's fighting back

Old wingtail car rolling up

Papa

Crunching wet gravel in driveway

Tired papa finally getting home from work at the town mill

Hugs

Children laughing at Popeye and Olive Oyl on the black and white TV, proud papa napping before dinner

Storm over at nightfall, fireflies shimmering like stars

Beautiful

Mama, Papa, Family like fireflies

Heads bowing for grace

Hallowed

Arkansas Fireflies Shimmering