Firefly

One night, I set off after the firefly
Night-light, glittering light in my eyes
Led like I was flying where the fly had flown
This was light like nothing that I’d ever known
It was too much to keep my eyes open wide
I was blinded by the light
Drawn from my house and home
Into the woods alone

I couldn’t see there
Though I was bathed in light
I couldn’t be there
But there in the night was I
A child chasing seemingly harmless lights
When I was burned by the firefly

Seven years in Elvin land
In service to the Elvin Queen
In hell in heaven, those seven years
Seemed like an eternity

Set free, I set off after a memory
Strange now, even to my family
It changed me, no one I knew recognized me
This was life like nothing that it used to be
It was too much to be alone with the ones I love
So, I set off on my own
Out of my house and home
Into the world alone

But I couldn’t be there
Although I was free at last
I wasn’t free there
I never outran the past
That magical night
Those tragical lights
Stole away sight
And left visions instead
On unquiet nights
Awake in my bed
Her face and that light
Running round in my head
I’m haunted by inescapable dread
A vision too painful to remember
Too precious ever to forget