Wayfarer Magazine

Wayfarer Magazine

Poetry

Heat Lightning & Lightning Bugs

A Poem by Karuna Das

Aug 09, 2024
∙ Paid

From the Wayfarer archive, Summer 2015

brown grass field towards trees
Photo by Jonathan Bowers

Three hours after lights out 
At the ashram 
I awaken 
And witness unexpected illumination 
Flashes in the cloudy heavens Reveal patterns across the firmament Until 
During a lull 
Against the dark expanse 
A single firefly shines 
Am I the sky 
Or 
Am I the fly 
I ask the universe 
“And” 
Not “Or” 
A voice within me answers 
And yes to both 

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