Faerie Tale

Once upon a time at the base of a Christmas tree
a sad faerie saw a way to the top
knowing it was where she was meant to be.
Despite broken wings, she began to climb
and her spirit began to rise
but then the snowman said, no,
and the candles said, you can’t go.
But the faerie climbed and climbed with an open mind
saying I have to try, otherwise my heart is empty.
So she climbed and climbed
and then the lights flashed into her eyes, they said, no,
and the reindeer also said, you can’t go.

Then the angel called down, don’t stop,
you will reach the top
it’s your determination, your ability,
there is nothing that you can’t be.
So the faerie climbed and climbed, as a star said no,
and a bauble called her crackers and said, you can’t go.
Then the faerie saw the top of the tree
and again the angel called down
don’t stop, you’re so near to the top,
so the faerie climbed and climbed
till even a tinsel flicked at her head
with a you must stop, it said,

but the angel put out a helping hand
and pulled our faerie to the top
smiling and saying, you made it because you didn’t stop.

Keith Low is a retired postman who lives on England’s Canvey Island. A lover of 1960s music, he plays guitar and in his teens was in an amateur covers band during those ’60s years. Managing to get gigs, one even at a club in London’s exclusive Oxford Street, they were more than well-received by audiences young and old alike. The story and theme of his Christmas spirit poem today are ones that he has been wanting to put down on paper for a long time.

Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to [email protected]. Submissions should be in the body of the email, not as attachments. A poetry book will be awarded to each accepted contributor.