Forest Faerie Lesson

She thought it was

the stony hand of gravity pressing her

all the day long into the grit

of twilight, and her breath

was heavily afraid.

Then the forest faeries whispered

into her mind,

her mind shaped its music,

her music lit her heart,

her heart, for a moment, held all the sky,

every animal person, every plant.

She saw gravity’s authority only works

when you believe in it,

as does flight,

so she gained sky, the ugly-duckling-days made fresh,

her own brilliance filling her hourglass

with green magic that was

always there.

J. Pratt-Walter, © 2018

If Dreams Were Arms

,

Remember how the shape of the air

fit around you?

And the trees, so surprised at

your sterling beauty.

And if dreams were arms

and lips formed air,

I would hold you, singing, forever.

Now you honor a different wind;

skin can’t feel it,

but the heart surely can, and there,

such music that ears can’t bear

to hear.

J. Pratt-Walter

© 2018