A Firefly in Columbia Heights

A firefly!

Mom why?

Why do they flash lights?

At the sound of bumble bees

Wheezing buses

Aroma of roses

Why mommy?

Why trash on the ground?

The squirrel with a naked tail 

Chase the brown one

Over an occasional nut

Mommy that man needs a bath

Shhhhh

But mommy, he is so dirty

What’s that smell?

Trash, honey

We need to wash it mommy

She starts to sing

“- Let it go, let it go”

little hands like tiny magic wands

creating a new world

 Firefighters fly by

With screaming sirens
Gunshots echoes from Columbia Road

That’s too much noise on my ears mommy!

Smile

She seriously stands her right hand up:

- See the red hand? We must stop at the raised hand

Glimpses of wisdom

I suddenly understand

Beyond science

Why do fireflies flash their light

in Columbia Heights

Will this children's light ever shine?

by Fabiana Avila