There Was Poem by Juan Olivarez

There was a little patch of woods,
Near where I used to live.
And I'd run there whenever I could,
Especially on moonlit eves.

There was a clearing, past the old oak trees,
Where rabbits would congregate.
When they saw me coming, they would just freeze,
All too uncertain of their fates.

But once they knew I meant no ill,
They'd lose their fear of me.
And they'd run and hop, couldn't keep still,
No longer did they care to flee.

And as the full moon would slowly rise,
Tiny little lanterns would start to fly.
So many in the clearing were the fireflies,
That they would brighten the night sky.

There must still be a place like that, I guess,
Where children can still stare wide eyed.
And spend moonlit nights lying on the grass,
Counting the stars in the night skies.

6/10/11 Alton Texas