GLOW-WORMS
The lines in this
poem are made of four feet of a stressed syllable followed by an
unstressed one (although the last unstressed syllable is dropped when
I have a "male" or single syllable rhyme. This is known as
trochaic tetrameter
which sounds a bit like a super-villain's assistant. This is one of
nature's amazing sights that I was lucky to see on the Gold Coast
hinterland in Queensland on Mount Tambourine. Scientifically, it is
known as thermoluminescence and is a chemical reaction producing
light, in this case to attract small insect prey at night.
GLOW
WORMS
(Curtis Falls, Mount Tambourine)
In the darkness, in the damp,
shallow cave beneath the tall
cliffs that conjure waterfall,
each a minute, blue-green lamp
steady on black basalt wall,
crowding glow worms softly gleam
by the moon-touched pool and
stream.
Each a star they shine in small
constellations- still, alone
on their sky of night-black
stone.
Well I know that there are
reasons,
causes for their strange
display;
like the glow-worms wonder
passes
in the common light of day.
Still, within this silent
darkness,
well beyond all explanation,
well beyond all explanation,
now I feel the secret-glowing,
soft enchantment of creation.
Visually elegant.
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