The best summer fireworks are provided by fireflies, those bliss-conjuring, blinking beetles that fly (I hope) in the backyards of your neighborhood.
I had an intense, spiritual experience communing with fireflies two years ago while on a silent retreat near Pittsfield, Massachusetts. As I was walking up a hill, returning to my hut after dusk, the shadows of the forest were a dark green-blue, and the sky was lit by luminous stars. As I came into a meadow, my jaw dropped at the site of hundreds, maybe thousands, of fireflies flying around and blinking in the clearing near my screen door. It was like they were having a busy convention there in my honor. So I had the stars above me, and huge numbers of fireflies surrounding me. Light above, light around, light within, as I was discovering. This amazing moment is something I’ll always remember and be able to call upon in dark times. I stood there a long time enjoying the show, unable to move really, rather incredulous that it was happening.
As I looked around for other resources, I found this Firefly collage/poem by Karen Hatzigeorgiou. It captures my feelings about the world’s best bug, and I know will appeal to you, too.