Building a Fairy House
Building a Fairy House
If I fashion a cottage with sticks and with leaves,
If I pin tulip petals under the eaves,
If I roll out a carpet of fresh emerald moss,
If I set out an armchair of fine milkweed floss,
If I lay a stone table with hickory shells,
If I finish the doorway with lavender bells,
Will you come? Will you stay?
Will you ask me to play?
This poem started with a hickory shell and a memory of building fairy houses with my daughter one summer when we were visiting friends in Vermont. We were told that if you build a fairy house, fairies will come live in it.
© Elizabeth Steinglass, 2014, all rights reserved
My kids have always been fairy house builders — even on city playgrounds where they incorporate bottle caps, broken barrettes and other human detritus.
I came across a(nother) book recently that made me think of you: ON LOOKING: ELEVEN WALKS WITH EXPERT EYES (Alexandra Horowitz). The fact that it included a quote attributed to John Burroughs made me know I had to pass it along. “To find new things, take the path you took yesterday.”
I love that quote. It’s new to me. I know extremely little about John Burroughs. Isn’t that odd? I’ll have to look for that book.
Fabulous! My daughter went through a fairy phase, but she never believed they lived in the desert – smart girl. I love the line: “a carpet of fresh emerald moss” Wouldn’t that feel lovely on tiny fairy feet? Great images, Liz! = )
Do you think fairies wear shoes?
Wow. This is simply magical. Thanks so much for sharing this. I love it.
Each day I think, “Wow, it can’t get any better.” Yet it does. You amaze me and as a “wannabee” poet, you inspire me. The images produced with words compare with the best of cameras.
I can’t wait to share this with your fans in room 103. I love this. If u ever get to mid-coast Maine the Botanical Gardens have some and the kids come dressed as fairies on special days. Love it. Check my FB page for a photo for u…if it is still on my phone.
Enjoyed this enchanting invitation!
I did this sort of thing quite a lot, but in the Harriet-and-Sport way, not for fairies! The repeated “If I” with all the “creationary” verbs makes this one special, and the rhymes are simple yet perfect. You’re in the zone, Liz.
I’m a teacher. Is it okay with you if I share your beautiful poem with my students?