PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

Children’s Day.

The other day I heard that the teachers in the local infant’s school were going to take the children into the woods to show them some of the wonderful things that Mother Nature provides. This I thought is good news and I hurried to the woods to ask the Fairies and the little folk to help look after the children. To make sure that no one went missing and that the little ones did not hurt themselves on the thorns of the brambles and the wild roses.

The Fairies were very excited and many Fairy rings sprang out of the ground overnight to show to the children.  Fairy rings are toadstools arranged in a circle the Fairies use them to sit on when they hold their meetings and for the Fairy dances. The Fairies went to the bramble bushes, which at this time of the year were full with large blackberries. Here they cleared away all of the thorns that could hurt a child.

All of the poisonous mushrooms were spirited away by magic and the woods were safe for the children.

The Friday morning arrived and after eating my breakfast, I eagerly waited for the children with their teachers to appear. Just before nine o’clock, I saw them all coming two teachers were leading and the children hand in hand, were talking excitedly among themselves. I greeted the teachers and asked if I could accompany them on their exciting journey into the woods. The teachers all knew me and agreed for me to go into the woods with them and the children.

Arriving at the first large clearing, I got the children to all sit and listen to the birds. I had asked the Fairies to get the animals and birds to appear one after another so that I could show the children how many and how different all the birds and animal were. First, I saw a large owl and showed the children how big its eyes were and the way it turned its head to all sides. The Fairies in turn sent robins and wrens, blackbirds and turtledoves and a large number of different birds for the children to see.

Then the animals came one after another, the fox. after the fox a badger mother with two young badgers. It was thrilling for the children to see the animals and birds. Their eyes were shining in anticipation of what would next appear. It was a mother deer with two babies. The children gave off little cries of delight and the fairies now began to show themselves. Two of the Fairies flew to my shoulders, sat, and talked to the children in picture language. This mental showing of pictures was the Fairies way of talking to human beings.

The teachers were surprised at how quiet and attentive the children were while the Fairies showed them different pictures. All that was in the woods the Fairies gave the children a running commentary. The places where the animals slept, the foxes burrow, where the rabbits played all day long. What food the animals eat. I must admit I too went through a learning process as the pictures flashed through my mind.

Then it was time for the children to go off and play. Some were soon eating the lush blackberries other collected mushrooms. Others carefully were looking at the Fairy rings. Each child had a Fairy looking after it there was no danger and soon the teachers were copying the children. This day many blackberries were eaten by the teachers and the children. Lunchtime came around, we all sat down on the grass in the clearing, and the teachers gave the children sandwiches and milk to eat and drink.

The Fairies I had to stop from giving the children Fairy Cakes and elderberry wine. After the meal, I arranged for the Fairies to show us more of the animal world at four o’clock in the afternoon it was time for the children to go home. The children held hands again and in pairs, they set off home with two teachers at the front and two with me in the rear.

I said goodbye to them all as I went into my front garden gate and promises were made for us all to go into the woods again on the next sunny day. I hurried back into the woods and thanked the Fairies for being so kind and for the wonderful things; they had shown to the children and me. Now whenever a child goes into the woods a Fairy is always at his or her side.