The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry

Seeking the Muse

I stare, astonished

each time she appears.

Strawberry, currant,

tomato, plum,

together with a thousand other

juicy reds, a full-bodied

orchestra of crimson-scarlet-

vermilion, sparkles

in her glossy wings.

My muse knows how to make

the grand entrance, the pause

for dramatic effect

(she can pause for days),

then here, wings wet,

glistening, wild dark hair

a cloud of silk behind her

pale body (usually

stark naked), the little hedonist

wants to eat, drink, scramble

down rabbit holes, ride on

comets, shrink to the size of a

gnat. She’ll explore

any strange path except the one

I ask about.

Catlike, she leaves little trophies

on my doorstep. Rusty keys,

a jar of marmalade,

desiccated bodies of

flies. If her gifts are not welcomed,

she may shun me for

half a year,

so I am stuck with flies

when I wanted flowers.

And then, once in a while,

Flame wing gives me

an old cardboard box.

I open it to find

oil of prophecy

in a peony flask,

Kubla Khan’s invisibility ring

of carved cinnabar,

or a ruby eye that sees

paradise, and I know she still

wants me to lay my offerings

on her alter, and believe

in red wings.

The Best Things

Cashmere coats?
Silken shoes and diamond rings?
I normally would have sought those things,

Until a Fae
Came my way

And opened portals to a Realm anew
And showed me Treasures
That I never knew…”

How far and wide the fairies fly on bright and golden wing

But when they settle down to sleep a gentle song they sing.

Sweet Queen of Night, soft silver stars, we’re glad you are so near.

We seek our beds; we rest our heads, without a moment’s fear.

On thistledown in hidden nooks we watch the waning light

The joys of sleep upon us creep, we wish you all good night.

By Steven Kroll

If You See a Fairy Ring

If you see a fairy ring

In a field of grass,

Very lightly step around,

Tiptoe as you pass;

Last night fairies frolicked there,

And they’re sleeping somewhere near.

If you see a tiny fay

Lying fast asleep,

Shut your eyes and run away,

Do not stay or peep;

And be sure you never tell,

Or you’ll break the fairy spell.

William Shakespeare

The faeries are all around us,

But you have to know where to look.

They don’t only exist in faerie tales,

Or just in make believe books.

They sprinkled their faerie glitter,

All through the night and day.

They know how to make you happy,

In almost every single way.

So don’t be a skeptic,

Don’t dare say that they aren’t real.

Because they are living creature, too,

they have emotions and they feel.

If you get caught in a streak of pure luck,

or you are one of the fortunate few.

You may be creeping through your backyard,

And see some twinkling out of the blue.

So keep your eyes near the ground,

and look for the beautiful twinkle.

If you do then you will know,

You are seeing the pretty little people.

By Rachel Freeman

The Child and the Fairies

The woods are full of fairies!

The trees are all alive;

The river overflows with them,

See how they dip and dive!

What funny little fellows!

What dainty little dears,

The dance and leap

And prance a peep,

And utter fairy cheers!