What every fairy knows

If you were to dance, Sweet Mary Gwenn,

          On the litter scorned by sickles,

I think there’s the chance that now and then,

          Your toes would be stung by prickles !

If you were to hop and skip and jump

          Like a marionette on wires,

I think you would stop by the old tree stump

          To rest your fat knees from briars !

If you were to tread on a buttercup,

          Though with feet however ducky,

I think that its head would crumple up-

          And THAT would be most unlucky !

But Fairies can dance, Sweet Mary Gwenn,

          On the crackling waste from sickles,

And with never a chance that now and then

          Their toes will be hurt by prickles.

And Fairies can hop and skip and jump

          Like the marionettes on wires,

With never a stop by the old tree stump

          To examine themselves for briars !

For Fairies, you see, have opal wings,

          And their clothes are light and airy-

And appear to me to do loads of things

          That cannot be done by Mary.

And Fairies can rest with the greatest ease

          On a leaf of Morning Glory,

Or sleep in the nest of the tallest trees-

          But that is another story.

Uncle Bogie

Letters to Mary Gwenn