When my mother and I go for a walk
We always enjoy the chance to talk
She tells stories and so do I
It’s a great way to make time fly.

One day when we reached the top of a hill
And everything was calm and still
My mother saw an opening between two rocks
A crack had formed from earthquake shocks.

My mother crouched down to see right in
The light inside was very dim
‘I can’t see anything anywhere
I wonder if something lives in there.’

I said I thought a spider or two
Perhaps a frog in the morning dew
A lizard would feel very glad
For the warmest home he’d ever had.

‘Or’ said my mother, with a knowing wink
We could take a different view I think
Let’s step away from reality
And imagine a world we cannot see.’

‘I think those leaves are really dresses
For fairies whose hats hide their tresses.
At night with golden clothes and hair
They fly around till the morning air.’

‘But how? What do they do?’ I said.
‘First, they make sure we’re all in bed
They try the door and check the locks
And wind the family’s antique clocks.’

‘They go outside and latch the gates
Then look for the rooster and his mates
We want no stoats or weasels here
We need the hens to lay all year.’

‘They count the sheep, talk to the horse
Make sure the cows are there of course
They check the fish aren’t overfed
By someone who’s upstairs in bed.’

The cat thinks fairies are good to eat
Thank goodness he has only feet
As long as they stay flying high
He can’t reach as they fly by.

The pigs make such an awful mess
It’s what pigs are meant to do I guess
The fairies check them from on high
No need to get mud in their eye.

Then they watch the duckpond pen
Don’t want ducks getting out again
They’ve pushed through wire before today
Just flapped their wings and flown away.

A donkey’s more a luxury
Not used for work he just roams free
But still the fairies meet his needs
And make sure he’s got drink and feed.

Just as well the dog can’t hear
Or he might know a fairy’s near
His constant whimper, whine or bark
Might wake the family in the dark.

While I am hearing all of this
There’s something that I seemed to miss
My feet have led me down the hill
Without a single scrape or spill.

My day has been the best one yet
I didn’t notice getting wet
No need for snacks, no whines or moans
The story simply took me home.