Queen of the Fairy Gully

This week I have something VERY different from the usual.

My family is moving, and for the last two weeks I’ve been trying to sift through, and eliminate, most of the detritus of years of academic study. That means lots of books (so difficult to cull books!) and papers that I feel pretty sure I will never ever look at.

One thing I did find, and had been looking for, was a binder of some of my early writing.

I found some pieces that I wrote when I was in my mid-teens and feeling particularly romantic about the past and Celtic mythology.

The image here is from one of my favourite books: Mythology of the British Isles, by Geoffrey Ashe.

The Fairy Glen
Betws-y-Coed, Snowdonia, Wales

As you can see, it’s a simple black and white photo of a place known as The Fairy Glen which is located in Snowdonia, an unbelievably beautiful region in north Wales.

I don’t know why (nor do I remember), but I was very drawn to this photo. My imagination was really taken with it, and the result was this attempt at a sort of freestyle poem.

I made no conscious attempt at style. I just wrote.

It’s not fantastic. However, it is a glimpse at some of my early inspiration and attempts to express myself through writing. It was even published in my high school paper - my first 'publication'. 

The best part is that recently I read this to my own kids at bed time one night and they LOVED it.

It was one of the most quiet bed times ever and they were all smiles. It was worth writing this all those years ago, just for that one moment of joy.

So, I hope you enjoy this no-blood-or-guts piece inspired by a single photo.

And if you have your own kids or grandkids, perhaps they’ll get something out of it too.

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Queen of the Fairy Gully

There is a place

That man has not sullied,

Peace is always present

In the Fairy Gully.

A soft stream flows

Like sweet music to the ears,

The trees are emerald green

Their leaves shed dewy tears.

The moss-covered rocks

Protrude from the edge.

There the Fairy Queen sits,

The soft moss for her bed.

The fairy kingdom wakes

To see something afloat.

It is two young lovers

Asleep in a boat.

The young man and young woman

Had lately been wed.

The still fresh garlands

Under their tranquil heads.

Both are entwined

As pure as can be,

Love next to love

Ever so softly.

“Look,” said a fairy.

“The boat has hit ground.

We must send it down stream

Without making a sound.”

“Wait,” said the Queen.

“They pose us no threat.

I shall go see

What they dream in their heads.”

So down she went

To the lovers afloat.

Still laying asleep

In their small bridal boat.

The fairies watched

Their queen from up high,

As she placed her wee hands

On the lovers’ closed eyes.

“My dear Queen,” uttered one.

“Is something very wrong?”

“Yes sweet fairy.

They dream a sad song.”

“Their families spoke

And forbid them to wed.

Rather than obey

They picked up and then fled.”

“What do they wish for,” asked another,

“Within these sad dreams?”

“They wish for happiness, peace and love,

For the whole of eternity.”

“Help we will give

To this young couple,

By fulfilling their dreams

And freeing them of troubles.”

“Upon the morn,” declared the Queen,

“Take we them to the place,

To be alone under the Oak.

Untouched by all hate.”

The fairy Cordelia

Came forward to say,

“Dream dust shall I give them

To make sure they will stay.”

So the lovers dreamt dreams

And the fairies did too,

In this lush green world,

Glimmering moonlight and dew.

The early morning sun

Did thread its way down.

That orb shed its light

On the young lovers’ crowns.

The mist was thick

And the water calm,

As the fairies moved the boat

With their otherworld song.

“This deed shall we do,”

The Fairy Queen said.

“This couple will lie

In a warm bridal bed.”

The boat drifted up

To a white sandy shore,

Where a path led away

Through the Fairy world’s door.

Cordelia then spoke

With worry and haste,

“My Queen, how will we take them

To the ever-peaceful place?”

“Fear not, precious fairy.

I know what to do.

Behind that bush

There the stream flows through.”

“Spirits of the wood

Conduct this small boat,

Wherein lie these lovers

Who yet have some hope.”

The bush moved aside

And the boat moved along,

As the fairies sang again

Their ancient forest song.

Closer they came,

And the world all turned bright.

Water, rocks, moss and dew,

The gully flooded with light.

At long last there it was,

The life of this small folk.

Branching out to the sun

Was the old sacred Oak.

Its body was huge

And its limbs full of grace.

The leaves tell a story

Of countless lived days.

Down at the bottom

On the soft ground,

Grows a bed of bluebells

For the couple to sleep sound.

“Now,” said the Queen,

We must do what is best.

On bluebells lay we them

Before they wake from their rest.”

Once more the song came

With ever sweet delight.

The couple was lain

On flowers for that night.

“Fairies return to the wood.

We must not disturb,

These two that I wake.

We must be unheard.”

The fairies obeyed

The words of their Queen,

Who woke the fair couple

Upon the coming of eve.

The moon rose up

And the sun went down.

The couple awoke

To look all around.

“What beautiful place is this?”

Asked the young maid.

“I know not where we be,

But we must always stay.”

“Truly this is,” said the boy,

“A very peaceful place.

Never again shall we bear

Any anger or hate.”

Up above in the leaves

Sat the caring Queen.

A smile on her face,

A tear on her cheek.

“Live as one,” said the Queen.

“Be happy and free.

You will always be safe

In our green Fairy Gully.”

The maid and young man

Do dwell there all along.

At night, as they embrace,

They hear a comforting song.

And so the young lovers

Fulfill their life’s dream.

Due to the precious help

Of the loving Fairy Queen.

Here is the end

Of this ancient story.

New love and old song

In the green Fairy Gully.

END