“I remember I used to half believe and wholly play with fairies when I was a child.”
Beatrix Potter
The Journal of Beatrix Potter, November 17th, 1896
I remember nights
As a very young child
Spent listening to
The creek outside
And below
My bedroom window,
How the waters
Seemed to laugh
Like the fey ones
Of Irish legend
As they played
Amongst the smooth stones.
It felt as if
They were inviting me,
Encouraging me
To join them in
Their merriment.
But though I wanted
Nothing more,
I remained steadfast
In my bed;
For the legends warned
To join them
Meant hundreds of years
Would pass
Before I returned
To find all I had held
Most dear
Gone.
Yet, oh, how I wanted
To play with them
Amongst the smooth stones
And the laughing waters!
This is very close to my heart. I believed in "fairies" as a child (and in many other wonderful creatures, things, and places)and I still do. A lovely write, Rebecca.
It's too bad that the legends and nursery rhymes were cruel. So often they were conjured up by adults to want to scare their children into behaving the way they wanted. In this case, not to believe too strongly in fairies hanging out along bubbling creeks. Actually, dragonflies and butterflies… Even buzzing flies, can be misunderstood by children to be fairies.
Unfortunately, that misinterpretation can be frightening. For example, my younger twin brothers were, for some reason, afraid of house flies… Yelling out, "Mama, mama! A bye a, bye!" In their private language, I don't recall my twin brother and I ever having a private language like that. They called a fly, a bye.
Explore the mystery of how nature makes unexpected gifts of creative wonders to an unsuspecting caregiver one late night and early morning in southeastern Georgia, USA.
A book of nature inspired poems and essays, written from the heart and soul of a life-long nature, animal, and wilderness lover, and dedicated to today’s children - Earth's only hope for a better tomorrow.
This book won 'The Poetry Category'
Share
Print
Save
Follow
Love, peace, and best wishes,
Regis 🌸🦄🧚♀️
Unfortunately, that misinterpretation can be frightening. For example, my younger twin brothers were, for some reason, afraid of house flies… Yelling out, "Mama, mama! A bye a, bye!" In their private language, I don't recall my twin brother and I ever having a private language like that. They called a fly, a bye.
Ron