Fireflies

i.
she kissed fireflies
when they gathered by the porchlight after dark.  
they never laughed when she told them i love you.

sometimes she even dared to call them her friends.

ii.

her parents told her that bugs couldn't love her.
they said "go to sleep,"

pushed her under the blankets
where she smothered.

iii.

she kisses fireflies
when they gather by the porch light after dark.
they never tell her that she's wrong.

sometimes she dares to call them her brothers.

iv.

the angels told her that bugs couldn't love her.
they said "go to sleep,"

pushed her under the clouds
where she drowned.

v.

she will kiss fireflies
when they gather by the porch light after dark.
they will never tell her that she's evil.

sometimes she will dare to call them her soul.

vi.

god told her that bugs couldn't love her.
he said "go to sleep,"

pushed her under the earth
where she burned.

vii.

she would have kissed fireflies
when they gathered by the porch light after dark,
but the flames would have been too hot

and killed her wing'ed saviors.