When days grew too bleak and stark,
I clad my world in velvet night.
I kept walking, led by my lamp;
through paths unseen, but not alone.
This steady lamp, it showed me the way
when the moon and stars fell asleep.
The lamp was dear, my only warmth
when all around was cold and dank.
Then I saw the little firefly,
a fallen star gleaming on grass.
Shimmering green and molten gold,
in its allure I stayed awhile.
Dreams I now saw in fair lamplight,
my world I dreamt in fairy glow.
Kissed by magic, I hid that spark
in a glass jar and held it close.
Then I knew that beside my lamp,
the flickering flame would not burn.
The lamp is mine, it shines for me;
it gives light where my feet take me.
My fond star, it shines for the world;
its spry light, but transient charm.
Needing to see, wanting to dream,
I broke my jar and let fire fly.
But this is no end, cannot stop
shadowing incandescent trails.
I must take the arduous road,
a lamp in hand to safely bear.
I must take the arduous road,
a firefly to shelter and care.
I must take the arduous road,
to a place of perpetual light.