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

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 at 2:16 pm and is filed under Fairy Poems, Spiritual, Tracy R. Cardinet. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.