Little ones — come, gather ’round
I have a yarn to spin
Find a soft spot on the ground
With words, I’ll draw you in
.
Try to be so very quiet
Do as I ask of you
So others might come out tonight
To hear the story too
.
Tiny ones, please have no fear
I swear, I bring no harm
To the firelight, do draw near
You needn’t feel alarm
.
Mister Owl, with fearsome scowl
Grand oak tree is your home
If you detect a noise, a growl
Pray, warn us ‘fore you’ve flown

In shadows’ sweep, the night descends
The full moon casts a glow
Where this yarn begins and ends
Why, really, I don’t know
.
Fairytale, oh weave a spell
Of magic and enchantment
Of wee folk in this fairy dell
Moss-covered, green encampment
.
Firelight dances with the words
It flickers, unrestrained
Like buoyancy of soaring birds
A mystical refrain
.
In the spinning, all are grinning
The story, now, enshrouds
The hero, in the tale, is winning
Moon slips behind some clouds
.
Eager faces ’round the fire
Eyes glowing with delight
Too soon the nighttime will expire
Cast out by morning, bright
.
Then all faeries, elves and gnomes
Inside tall tales and heads
Will wish themselves back to their homes
To sleep in their sweet beds
.
Then you and I will also fly
Back to our homes, but then
We’ll meet once more and, by and by
More yarns for you I’ll spin
.
” Storyteller “  .  05-01-12  .  t.r. cardinet

Here’s a little faerie
Some magic just for you
She’s very, very, very
Kind, and very true
.
I found her ‘neath a willow
Between two sparkling streams
She’ll faerie dust your pillow
So you may have sweet dreams
.
If you try to hold her
She may laugh and fly away
Or sit upon your shoulder
Until the light of day
.
Give her something sweet to eat
And she will be your friend
Do this now — and, then, repeat
She will love you ’til the end
.
I’ll leave you two alone now
So dreaming may commence
Then, at dawn, she will be gone
Faerie magic and nonsense
.
” Faerie Magic and Nonsense “  .  04-08-10  .  t.r. cardinet

Once there lived a unicorn
Whose coat was purest white
On his brow, a golden horn
That sparkled in the light
.
The unicorn had a friend
Adreama was her name
Everyday, without end
Adreama always came
.
She’d walk up to the unicorn
An apple in her hand
That unicorn would bow his horn
The sight of him was grand

The apple, he would gently eat
So careful not to bite her
Everyday, this would repeat
That unicorn beside her
.
Adreama was a fairy
Though she seldom used her wings
She loved to roam the forest
And discover pretty things
.
That’s how she met the unicorn
While walking near a stream
Along green moss and thistlethorn
Where Adreama loved to dream
.
One day she saw him drinking
Some water, cool and clear
And that got her to thinking
So she whispered in his ear:
.
“Hello.  My name’s Adreama.”
Then, “Do you live nearby?”
The unicorn was not forlorn
So Adreama didn’t fly
.
Instead, she sat down in the grass
To watch her new friend drink
Adreama was a lovely lass
With wings of lightest pink
.
Over time, their friendship grew
Soon, all their days they spent
Together, beneath skies of blue
Where Adreama went, he went
.
That unicorn, with golden horn
Who loved the sparkling stream
That fairy, with a heart so warm
So lovely, like a dream
.
The two of them, together
Best friends for all their days
Their love lasted forever
They never parted ways
.
That was many years ago
When the forest was first formed
When fairies flitted to and fro
And there were unicorns
.
“Adreama and The Unicorn”  .  12-04-11  .  t.r. cardinet ©

Cloak of flowers shields her form
As she passes sleeping things
Winter’s trail, now bright and warm
With each footstep, summons spring
.
Beloved goddess, bodice green
Peeking out between her cape
Lovely hair, a golden sheen
Amulet, clasped at her nape

Magic staff of driftwood, smooth
Offers it up, to the sky
Verdant buds, as if to soothe
Caress the trees, create a sigh
.
In dreary dark of winter’s hold
Softest snow still sugars ground
Looks as though not one bit cold
As she stops to look around
.
‘Neath bare feet, where once was ice
Grass and tulips, in array
Wintertime is lovely, nice
Quietly, it fades away
.
Living things awake and sing
Song birds, song birds everywhere
Suddenly — yes — it is spring
Rushing in without a care
.
Goddess-fair, with silken skin
Features warm as morning sun
Welcome back, my faerie friend
It’s your time now, with winter done
.
Mother Nature sends her child
Bearer of what’s good and sprightly
Living things, both tame and wild
Hold fast to spring, and hold it lightly
.
“Goddess of Rebirth”  .  03-27-12  .  t.r. cardinet ©

Bobby and his sister Mary
wanted so to see a fairy;
from babyhood their Mum retold
tales of the fairy-folk of old.

Finding such tales far from boring,
every chance, they went exploring
through the forest near their home,
these children would quite often roam.

Seeking under every leaf ,
searching to sustain belief;
turning over rocks with care,
to see if any fairy’s there.

Hedgehogs, rabbits, saw they clearly,
a passing fox sniffed at them queerly;
once they saw a full-grown hind,
but not one fairy could they find.

After a day of fruitless searching
tangled thickets, limping, lurching,
giving up were Bob and Mary;
thought they’d never find a fairy.

The day waned and darkness came,
and all the pathways looked the same;
lost, the children walked until
fatigued, they stopped upon a hill.

“I’m hungry, Bobby, and I’m scared,”
cried Mary and her brother cared;
he held her close while Mary wept,
until at last, the children slept.

The sunlight came and brought a breeze,
the songs of birds came from the trees;
the children’s stretching, yawning, sighs
accompanied the opening of their eyes.

They wiped them then in disbelief,
for there in every bowl and leaf,
honey, fruits, dewdrops and berries;
who could have left them but the fairies?

Sweet music came from somewhere near,
gone was their hunger, fatigue and fear;
they heard the hidden voices sing
and saw they’d slept in a fairy ring.

With the dawn, they knew the way,
homeward, happily they play;
relief for a worried Mum and Dad
who’d looked in vain for their lass and lad.

That night, tucked lovingly in her bed,
Mary, to her brother said,
“But Bobby, we never saw a fairy!”
“Hush, my little sister Mary,

“You saw their hilltop fairy ring,
you heard their many voices sing;
you ate and drank their kindness, wee one,
and now complain you didn’t see one?”

“I’m sorry, Bobby,” Mary pled,
I’ll never doubt again,” she said,
“we may grow old each passing year;
I’ll always know that they are here!”

Copyright (C) 2012 by John Bliven Morin

Not far from where the Graces danced
I fiddled with delight
The music reignited
With not a cloud in sight

Their spell slipped from my fingers
Farewell to Graces three
I labored and I reminisced
Whereto did wonder flee?

But string song’s lure was lasting
Through spring, summer, and fall
My fiddle found the west wind
And Graces standing tall

No longer do they spin and whirl
They bear the water vase
Their dance, my song remembered
With joy upon their face.

by Dorothea Barth

Fallbrook Graces Bert Barth

A silver fairy flowered
Upon a pale, pale ray
When grey evoked the shadows
And dark invoked the day
A tear of silence slivered
Across the pall of time
The voice of sadness shivered
Still, light was in the song.

S.K. Lindeman

Dreaming of fireflies last night
She felt happy just to be
Witness to a faerie flight
An enchanting sight to see
*
Their color was astounding
They shone yellow, like the sun
Fluttering in sky, abounding
She loved them, everyone
*
Flying pixies, lanterns glowing
Each one, a wish fulfilled
Part of her, aware and knowing
They could only stay until
*
Slumber’s hold grew weak and frail
Forgoing magic for the dawn
When the night begins to pale
Firefly faeries are all gone
*
Within their realm, but for a time
Where rules cabbages and kings
Entertained by her own mind
She, too, had faerie wings
*
©2008 t.r. cardinet

Little maiden, all alone
Barely but a girl, half-grown
Dodging vines and elderberries
Makes her way to find the faeries
.
In the dark, afraid and crying
The faerie part of her was dying
Lantern low, her spirits too
What would they say? What would they do
.
Magic woods, with trees sublime
Up their staircase, she did climb
Heart in hand, gold tresses, curled
Slightest shoulders, wings unfurled
.
Holding her hem, going slow
Held the lamp, as it burned low
Grateful for some light to guide
Soon, on a branch, the lamp was tied
.
Leaning back and peering up
She spied a faerie with a cup
He motioned for her to ascend
She wondered, was he foe or friend
.
Finally, now near the top
A second faerie bade her, stop
Like a statue, but with breath
Held hers in, awaiting death
.
All at once, from out of nowhere
A lovely creature, who was so fair
With a smile so bright, so festive
Upon her head, a star crown rested
.
Startled by this lovely vision
Unable to make a decision
The little faerie followed all
Up thirteen steps, into a hall
.
In the center, stood a throne
The faerie queen, and she alone
Took her leave, then took her seat
Loyal subjects at her feet
.
In a voice so soothing, mild
Crowned faerie spoke: “Speak with me, Child.”
The little waif, wings not aflutter
Could not speak, could only mutter
.
The faerie queen then smiled and said
“Perhaps you’d like to sing, instead.”
Looking up through lashes lush
The little faerie’s cheeks did blush
.
Queen, nodding her encouragement
Girl, losing all discouragement
Her golden curls began to dance
Her green-blue eyes slipped into trance
.
Into the soft, dark folds of night
One voice sang out, and all went quiet
From little lungs, like hummingbirds’
Flowed melody — rich, without words
.
Only those akin to faeries
They, who feast on elderberries
Only those folk of the wood
Heard the notes and understood
.
The little faerie stood there singing
Suddenly, her wings were winging
High above the trees she rose
Her eyelids shut, yielding repose
.
Unaware of heights she’d flown
Music, from her heart, was sown
When she’d sung the last note out
With open lids, she looked about
.
Down she floated, like a feather
Landing in some faerie heather
Those around her stood and cheered
At her side, the Queen appeared
.
“Such a lovely song, my Dear,”
Said Faerie Queen, drying a tear
“I suppose, by now, you’ve guessed,
You are not like all the rest.”
.
She didn’t know just how she knew
She only knew the words were true
Wings aflutter, aground she stood
A faerie princess of the wood
.
After that, and evermore
‘Til faeries became mere folklore
That little fay, so lost, so tragic
Delighted in sweet song and magic
.
If you are quiet and very good
While walking through a faerie wood
You might see a faerie winging
Or maybe hear a faerie singing
.
Even if you never hear
A faerie singing in your ear
I promise you, the sound is sweet
Ask me again, I will repeat
.
©2004 t.r. cardinet

Oh, how enchanting
Bright rays through the trees
Warm kiss the sun’s planting
Diamond dew drops to please
.
Look at the flowers
Just look at that bed
Relaxing for hours
With no sense of dread
.
Faeries on petals
Wings glistening, bright
No thorns and no nettles
Sweet blossoms delight
.
Oh what a pageant
Gathered in greeting
Their essence so magic
Such beauties competing
.
Ever they shimmer
Beneath dawn’s pink clouds
Then, when moon glimmers
Ensconced in night’s shroud
.
They fold up their daydreams
They all wave goodbye
Alighting on moonbeams
Away they do fly
.
Their work, now, completed
They bask in the glow
All will be repeated
Tomorrow, they know
.
©2010 t.r. cardinet

Fly away, into the sky
But not too near the sun
As you go, I’ll wave goodbye
Along the ground I’ll run
.
Watch you whisk your wings in flight
Then, while you’re overhead
I’ll see them glitter in the light
And feel no sense of dread
.
For I will know that where you go
So high up in the blue
Is much too high for me; please know
I’ll be here, when you’re through
.
‘Cause that is what a faerie does
When she truly loves her friend
She’ll run aground, then wait, because
True friendship has no end

You must, now, take to the sky
Adventure is awaiting
You’ll return and by-and-by
I’ll be here, celebrating

©2010 t.r. cardinet

See each tiny lamplight
There, to light your way
As you trod off to Dreamland
Where nightmares never stray
.
Watch as they go dancing
Just enhancing every place
Nighttime they’re romancing
Gloom . . . there scarcely is a trace
.
They’ll clear the way for sleeping
Help your eyelids droop and close
With each twinkle, they’ll be keeping
Records of your sweet repose
.
Tomorrow, when you need them
They’ll be back again to shine
If eyelids learn to heed them
You will slumber every time
.
I’ve told you of the faerie lights
I let you in my heart
Now, ready for my faerie flight
I magically depart
.
©2010 t.r. cardinet

Good morning little daisy faerie
Sitting on soft petals
Lost in thought, a lazy faerie
Though I’m not one who meddles
.
Your little dress, your tiny wings
Both golden, like the sun
Your bonnet white, so sweet, so clean
I love to gaze upon
.
I see you there, with pen in hand
Thinking up some stories
You love to write, I understand
Next to the morning glories
.
I’ll leave you be so you can see
The poetry you’re writing
Then, off you’ll fly — your destiny
To some other bloom, alighting

t.r. cardinet©2010

Petals of plum
burgeoning like snow
Faces as blossoms
lifted and blow
Pleiades’ geyser
released to the sky
Upon heaven’s crater
here we can lie.

s.k. lindeman

Salient spring,
softened skies,
fluttering blue,
see the red bird rise.

S.K.Lindeman©2012 NY USA