Lampyridae ... a Creekside poem by Anne Selden Annab

            Lampyridae

 

There are only a few fireflies-

star sparks                    - lightening bugs-

this early summer’s eve in my sixties.

 

Decades ago, twilit lawns

would fill with children

running to catch the magic

in their hands.  I was one once

carefully cradling the glow

and then letting it go.

 

Almost every language on earth

seems to have a word for these winged

lamps from antiquity, the Lampyridae, glow worms,

beetles

 with numerous species and flash patterns,

some synchronized

some not.  But all enchanting…

 

hotaru*

luciole*

ildflue*

Glimworm*

koukouy*

blysbjalla*

kunang-kunang*

lucciola*

ildflue*

swietlik*

pirilampo*

licurici*

lagomu afi*

svetluska*

luciernaga*

lysmask*

kipeperushi*

Te mau nota*

Pryf tan*

 

 

*Japanese

*French

*Danish

*Dutch

*Haitian Creole

*Icelandic

*Indonesian
*Italian

*Norwegian

*Polish

*Portugese

*Romanian

*Samoan

*Slovak

*Spanish

*Swedish

*Swahili

*Tahitian

*Welsh

poem copyright ©2025 Anne Selden Annab

Equality - a Creek Side poem by Anne Selden Annab

        Equality

I caught you kissing

in that beautiful bower 

of the Redbud's pink blossoms

one day.  The next day

it was under a profusion

of bright daffodils.

Random moments

here then there

stealing kisses

as Spring flowers bloom

and bounce on zephyrs

heaven sent.

 

 

poem & photo copyright ©2025 Anne Selden Annab

Accoutre - a Creek Side poem by Anne Selden Annab

 

             Accoutre           

Pink and gold blossoming

from branch to branch-

Bush and tree bloom

the earth does too- brown into

green into gold and pink

as life comes back

surging and shimmering

like a silk kimono.

A Great White

Egret catches my eye

gliding past.

 poem & photo copyright ©2025 Anne Selden Annab

Late January Magic Tricks - a Creek Side poem by Anne Selden Annab

 

       Late January Magic Tricks

After the snow

and an early morning

sunrise

at zero degrees-

Our frozen creek

and birdbath both

breathe steam...

Up where we are

momentarily

safe inside behind

the cold clean window

of our home we are maybe inches away

from    suddenly      shimmering         bits

of      ice            crystals

that   are 

floating     on      cold     air

here  and    there

out    side   .  .  .  .  .   eye level

everywhere we look...

Like tiny sparkling gems

levitating & spinning &

randomly mirroring 

minuscule rainbows

 

to give us rapture.

 

                                       poem copyright ©2025 Anne Selden Annab

 

Maple Seeds in Spring

 

I long be out, totally outside right now-                out on our lawn this breezy May

out where the maple seeds spin and twirl and 

dance down- dropping 

where ever whim 

and breeze 

takes 

them.

 

Spring 

gusts 

set

one

two 

three

four

five

ten

twenty

fleets 

sailing

soaring

... some might land into saplings & trees

 

 

 

poem copyright ©2024 Anne Selden Annab

 

Engagement

          Engagement

Mid-March acrobatics

with blustery winds when

our dancing daffodils bloom,

many of our littlest finches 

do too.

Molting winter's camouflage

those tree branch beige shadows

and putty shades are replaced

As new feathers 

are brightening

lightening

into gold.

And the promise of more.

 

 

   poem & photo copyright ©2024 Anne Selden Annab

Connections

                 Connections       

The big white bird

with black wing tips*

was flying low

alone

away...

hours pass.

I read of fields and farms,

of migrations,

of hope

and dreams-

of hunger

and hard work.

By chance I look up

thinking- digesting

themes

to see

three big white birds

with black wing tips

flying low

in the opposite direction.

poem copyright ©2024 Anne Selden Annab

*Snow Goose