Simon and the Fairies

I wrote this epic poem when I was still in my mid teens. I had drawn a series of illustrations to help the story along with the intention of approaching a children’s book publishers, but, as with many of my youthful endeavors I never got around to making the final step. Looking back on it now I doubt it would have been accepted anyway. It’s a pretty long read, but it’s still got a touch of suspense about it, a little magic and a lot of rhyming words.

Simon and the Fairies.

In a house by the woods

lived a family of three,

Two children who lived with their mother.

Simon was six and

much smaller by far

Than Peter – his ten year old brother.

Now one sunny morning

when breakfast was done,

Peter asked ‘Can I go out to play?

I’ll take my new football

and call for my friends,

And we’ll make the most of the day.’

‘Of course you can sweetheart,

you go and get ready,

Today’s such a nice day,’ said Mother.

‘In fact you can both go,

and leave me in peace,

So Simon – look after your brother’.

‘Oh, Mum!’ complained Peter

‘He’s too small for football

He gets in the way of our game.

He’ll get knocked around

and he’ll cry and he’ll fuss

And as usual I’ll get the blame’.

Now Peter,’ said Mother

‘It’s a wonderful day,

He can’t spend the morning indoors.

Besides, I’m too busy

to give him attention,

You see, I have too many chores.

‘But Mum…’ started Peter,

‘No buts.’ Scolded mother,

Take Peter or don’t go at all.

And don’t go too far,

for when dinner is ready

I expect you to come when I call.

So the brothers got dressed,

Washed their faces and hands,

Got their coats on and then went outside.

They began through the woods,

To meet Peters friends

Who lived on the opposite side.

Simon walked fast,

But Peter walked faster,

Annoyed that his brother was there,

For though he loved Simon

As much as he should,

Sometimes he was too much to bear.

‘Slow down!’ pleaded Simon

‘Please don’t walk so fast.’

Peter looked round with a scowl,

But before he could speak

From the bushes behind

Came a terrible blood-curdling growl.

The two brothers jumped

And looked quickly behind them

To see what had made such a noise,

And then from the bushes

A dog jumped out barking

And ran at the two little boys.

‘Run!’ shouted Peter,

‘Run fast, don’t look back!’

And they ran through the woods at high speed.

But Simon was smaller,

His legs somewhat shorter

And Peter was soon in the lead.

Now Peter looked back

And saw that his brother

Could never keep up with his pace,

So Peter slowed down

Letting Simon go first

With the dog catching up in the chase.

Peter changed his direction,

And the dog changed his too

Chasing Peter alone through the trees,

But poor Simon kept on,

Through the wood running on

‘til he tripped and fell down to his knees.

With fear he looked back

And saw nothing there,

No sign of the dog or his brother.

In the distance a bark,

Then a growl and a shout,

As poor Peter cried out for his mother.

And then there was silence,

No sound, none at all,

Simon knew he was lost and alone.

Without his big brother

To show him the way,

Poor Simon would never get home.

He started to walk,

First one way, then another,

Calling to Peter and crying.

What if his brother

Was hurt, or in pain?

What if his brother was dying?

Don’t cry little boy

Said a voice kind and tender.

Simon looked but could see no-one there.

‘All’s not lost.’ Said the voice,

‘We can help.’ Said another,

seemingly out of thin air.

‘But who are you? Where are you?

Why can’t I see you?’

Said Simon with tears in his eyes.

‘Look to your feet,’

Said a voice soft and gentle,

‘Look hard, for we’re both in disguise.’

So Simon looked down

To the grass and the flowers

And could not believe what he found.

Two flowers with faces,

And arms that were waving,

Two flowers that danced all around.

‘My name is Sarah.’

Said a small quiet voice,

‘My name is Sam, said another.

‘And we are the fairies

That live in these woods,

And we can help you find your brother.

‘Fairies?!’ cried Simon,

‘You can’t be – not really!’

‘Why not?’ asked the tallest of two.

‘My brother said fairies aren’t real.’

Answered Simon,

‘Such things, he says just can’t be true.

‘Not true?’ said one flower,

‘Well, well,’ said the other,

‘He doesn’t believe his own eyes.’

We’re here.’ Said the taller,

‘We’re real.’ Said the smaller,

‘And fairies aren’t known for their lies.’

‘But the fairies I’ve seen

in my picture-book stories

were no doubt more curious things.

For though you’re alike

In a number of ways,

The ones in my stories have wings’.

‘Well spotted.’ Said Sarah,

the smallest of two.

‘I agree.’ Said Samantha, the other.

‘And we’ll tell you the way

that we fairies get wings,

but first let us go find your brother.

‘Poor Peter – of course!

why I’d almost forgot!

I do hope my brother’s okay!’

‘Fear not’ said Samantha,

‘We’ll soon seek him out.

So come – let us be on our way.’

‘But the dog…’ started Simon,

‘don’t worry.’ Said Sam,

‘He won’t harm you while we two are here,

for fairies are blessed

with a magical gift,

believe us, you’ve nothing to fear.’

So, off through the woods,

Searching high, searching low,

Went the curious three on their quest.

Simon the child

And his new friends the fairies,

Traveled on through the woods without rest.

Looking here, looking there,

Calling ‘Peter where are you?’

Not once did the brother reply.

‘til midway through the woods

where the old well once stood

Simon stopped and then started to cry.

‘He is lost!’ cried out Simon,

‘We never will find him!

Oh what in the world will I do?

But then came a voice,

Full of joy, full of hope

Saying ‘Simon – is that really you?’

‘Oh Peter!’ cried Simon

‘We’ve found you at last!

You don’t know how worried I’ve been.’

He turned to the voice,

And his hopes turned to worry,

For Peter was not to be seen.

‘I’m here!’ shouted Peter,

‘down here in this hole,

Where the well of the woods used to be.

I’m not really hurt,

But I’ve fallen too far

And the climb is just too much for me.’

‘Can you help?’ Simon asked

of the fairies beside him,

‘I really do hope that you can.’

‘It’s a problem for sure,’

said Samantha to Simon,

‘But I’m sure we can work out a plan.’

‘What if…’ started Sam,

but before she could finish

a terrible bark stopped her cold.

And again from the bushed

The big dog appeared,

Such a terrible sight to behold.

The dog ran towards them

At a frightening speed

And growling leapt into the air.

Simon stepped backwards

And covered his eyes,

The terror was too much to bear.

The fairies moved quickly,

And waving their hands,

Shouted magical words at the dog.

There followed a flash

And a thunderous noise

As the beast was turned into a frog.

But too late for Simon,

For when he stepped back

The ground fell away from his feet,

And down tumbled Simon

Like Peter before him,

Landing quite hard on his seat.

Checking himself,

Simon got to his feet,

Not hurt but quite scared by the fall.

‘Oh Simon,’ said Peter

with tears in his eyes,

‘Now we’ll never get out of this hole.’

‘Don’t worry’ said Simon

as he hugged his dear brother,

‘The fairies will help set us free.’

‘Oh Simon,’ sighed Peter,

‘This is no time for dreams,

this is real, they are not – don’t you see?’

‘They’re up there’ said Simon

‘They’re real, and I’ll prove it!’

and with that he called out to the two.

He called several times

But each time got no answer,

‘You see,’ Peter said, ‘It’s not true.’

Just then, from above,

Something small dropped towards them,

‘It’s them!’ shouted Simon, ‘You see?’

‘Some fairies,’ mocked Peter

as it landed beside him,

‘It looks more like a frog to me.’

‘But that was the dog!’

argued Simon ‘They changed it!’

‘Enough!’ shouted Peter, ‘Now stop it!

We are trapped, don’t you see?

We’ve got troubles enough

Without you and your dreams – so just drop it!’

Simon fell silent

And wished that the fairies

Would prove themselves real to his brother,

As Peter gave thought

To the hole they were in,

And how they could get back to mother.

For a time it was like this,

Just silence and sorrow,

Two boys and a frog in a hole.

Then all of a sudden

The silence was broken

As the boys heard a curious call.

‘Who’s there?’ Peter asked,

‘It’s the fairies!’ cried Simon,

‘The ones that I told you about.’

‘Heads up!’ shouted Sarah,

‘Look sharp!’ called Samantha,

‘we’re back and we’re getting you out!’

The two boys looked up

To the shouts of the fairies

And saw such a wonderful sight,

Near the top of the hole

Was the wonderful vision

Of thousands of fairies in flight.

‘My word!’ exclaimed Peter,

‘They really are real!’

‘There’s so many!’ cried Simon in awe.

‘We’ve been sent here to help’

said the nearest of many,

‘By the two that you already know.’

‘Stand together.’ She said,

‘Over here would be best.

Stand quite still, back to back if you would.’

The two did as were asked

And then watched as the fairies

Flew in circles around where they stood.

Faster they flew,

Chanting magical words,

So fast they became just a blur.

Back to back stood the boys

With their eyes tightly closed

As they were lifted up into the air.

‘We’re flying’ breathed Peter,

not daring to move,

not daring to open his eyes.

‘Don’t speak.’ Whispered Simon

‘Don’t move, not an inch.’

And the two boys continued to rise.

Then a brilliant white light

Surrounded the two,

And there came such a thunderous sound.

The two boys were rocked

Back and forth for a moment,

Then gently their feet touched the ground.

‘You’re safe.’ Said a voice

as they opened their eyes,

‘The danger has passed.’ Said another.

‘Where are we?’ asked Simon

‘this place looks so strange.’

‘I want to go home.’ Said his brother.

‘Don’t worry,’ said Sarah

‘We’ll take you back soon,

but first we have something to do.’

‘You see,’ said Samantha

we have wings to collect,

‘We’ve earned them for helping you two.’

‘So that’s how you get them!’

said Simon to Sarah,

‘That’s right,’ said Samantha ‘It’s true,

for as everyone knows

one good turn earns another,

and now we have ours,

thanks to you.’

‘But what is this place?’

questioned Peter politely,

amazed at the things he could see.

There were houses of mushrooms

And beautiful flowers,

‘Where on earth in the woods could we be?’

‘This is the Glade,

where we fairies all live.’

Said Samantha and Sarah together.

‘And for you to be here

is an honour indeed,

you must keep it a secret forever.’

‘We will.’ Promised Simon,

‘Your secret is safe,

but how did we get here so soon?’

‘By magic,’ said Sarah,

‘and by that same magic

We’ll have you both back home by noon.’

‘Where are the others

that helped us?’ asked Peter,

only now realizing they’d gone.

‘Waiting,’ said Sarah

‘In the palace of mushrooms,

where we will have our wings put on.

‘We must go,’ said Samantha,

‘Agreed.’ Added Sarah,

‘You must wait here.’ They told the two brothers.

‘We won’t be too long,

then we’ll take you back home.’

And then off they went, joining the others.

When the boys were alone

Peter turned towards Simon

And said ‘You were right all along.

You said there were fairies

And I didn’t believe,

Now I know you were right, I was wrong.’

‘And the next time

I come out to play’ added Peter,

‘I’d be grateful if you would come too.’

Simon looked to his brother

And smiling said ‘Peter,

I’d be happy to play out with you.’

Then a voice from behind

Said ‘We’re back, and we’re different!

We have wings! We can soar! We can fly!’

‘This is great!’ shouted Sarah

As she soared through the air,

‘I’m so happy I think I could cry!’

‘You look great.’ Giggled Simon,

Like real fairies should,

Like the ones in the books that I read.’

‘So pretty.’ Said Peter

with a smile on his face,

‘such beautiful fairies indeed.’

‘Now it’s time you were going back home.’

Said Samantha,

‘Or your mother will think somethings wrong.’

‘Yes, quite right,’ said Sarah

‘For it’s near enough noon,

so it’s time you were getting along.’

‘Will we see you again?’

Simon asked of the fairies.

‘Of course,’ answered Sarah, ‘No doubt.’

‘For we are now friends,’

Said Samantha to Simon,

‘If ever you need us, call out.’

And so the two faries

Called out to the others

To help send the boys on their way.

‘I will never forget,’

Simon said to the fairies

‘The thing’s that I’ve seen here today.’

Again, like before

They were raised from the ground

As the fairies encircled the boys,

And again a bright light

Shone around the two brothers

And again came the thunderous noise.

‘We’re home.’ Peter said

as they opened their eyes

and found themselves on their own lawn.

‘And look,’ Simon moaned

‘Sam and Sarah are gone!

The two fairies have left us alone.’

‘Not quite’ Peter laughed,

Look, here on the floor,

They have left us a gift sure enough.’

‘It’s the frog!’ Simon cried,

‘Hello dog!’ giggled Peter

The frog looked at the boys and said ‘Woof!’

And so, laughing

The two boys went into their house,

For now their adventure was done.

But as far as their friendship

With Sarah and Sam went,

Their adventures had barely begun.

The End.