Artist
Paul.
Paul is what one would call a travelling Artist. That is he goes from town to town and land-to-land painting exquisite pictures on buildings. While wandering through Europe Paul came to the city of Graz situated in the southern part of Austria. Here Paul was asked to paint a picture on the walls of a coffee house. Paul painted his pictures and went on his way. Some seven years later Paul was asked if he would paint a wall that had been built to help stop the noise of the traffic that went past the coffee houseThis time it was different Paul was free to paint a picture to his own liking. Paul first painted background paint on to the wall. His first idea was to paint the ugly concrete from which the wall was made into a stone wall, painting stones like one sees in a real stone built wall. He started to paint and his stones were very real looking. Paul painted away and soon the first portion of the wall was finished.
The next day Paul looked at his finished part of the wall painting and decided that a stone wall was nice to look at but flowers were much more delighting to the eye. Paul painted the first flowers of the spring, snowdrops in bunches between the new growing grass that was taking on its fresh green colour. The snowdrops looked very real and were very pleasing to the eye. Then he painted crocuses and daffodils, daisies and primroses then tulips and hyacinths. Each flower looked more real and the ugly concrete wall slowly disappeared and flowers that were so real to look at that even the bees and the butterflies and other flying insects stopped to collect the pollen that they expected to find. Then Paul painted a rose bush, the roses were of different colours ranging from a delicate pink through to dark red with here and there a yellow rose peeping shyly through the leaves that were so real to look at. Soon the wall was the talk of the City and people came from near and far to see the most beautiful flowers that Paul magically made with his paints and brushes. Soon the flowers changed Paul painted autumn flowers with asters and other flowers. Paul finished his painting by painting a snowman that looked as if it had just been built by the few children that he added to finish the picture off.
The bees and other insects told the fairies about the strange flowers that had no pollen. The fairies flew to the delicatessen to see for themselves these strange flowers that gave the bees and other flying insects no pollen. I too was invited to see the strange flowers that looked so real but gave off no scent. Everyone knows that most flowers have a delicate perfume all of their own. The thorns on the rose bush looked so real but no one could be hurt if he or she touched them. The fairies asked me if I would like the flowers to be real whenever I went to the delicatessen. I thought to myself what a wonderful idea, I could have sweet smelling flowers all of the year round. The fairies warned me that I would be the only one that could smell the flowers and that I would look silly if I smelled the flowers whenever some one was looking.
Many people came to the conditerei for coffee and cakes also for the ice cream that was made and sold on the premises. I myself have visited the conditerei for a great number of years and the difference now is that I can see and smell the whole years flowers whenever I want it is wonderful. Paul comes back every now and then to look at the flowers and retouch any that might have faded in the sunshine. Paul always carries his paints and brushes wherever he goes. Paul has now gone back home to the United States of America, I often wonder if he realises how many people he has made happy by painting his lovely flowers on the concrete wall. Her Majesty Queen Feeana Queen of all the Fairies has told the fairy population that they were not to copy Paul’s paintings by painting flowers on the walls of the houses of the humans. Paul still does not know how involved the fairies are by allowing certain people to smell the flowers whenever they go to the delicatessen. I am sure though that Paul would be delighted to know that his flowers give off lovely scents for some chosen people to smell. If you are lucky perhaps one day Paul will come your way perhaps to your town and paint another wall or building that will give you too much pleasure.
Andromeda.
The fairies took me to Andromeda in outer space,
They did heartily laugh at the look on my face.
A flash of light my mind went quite blank,
I thought it was just another fairy prank.
We had arrived at a planet quite green,
It was all arranged by the Fairy Queen.
She said she wanted to broaden my mind,
Which I thought was exceptionally kind.
All sorts of weird and wonderful alien creatures I saw,
some flew through the air, others crawled on the floor.
Here too were fairies with magical powers,
I spent with them some most exciting hours.
I was invited to attend the only fairy school,
Where courtesy was taught it was a golden rule.
I was shown magic it was simple and clear,
a hundred new spells that would last me a year.
In Andromeda there is no Fairy Queen to guide,
Just true democracy it was their only pride.
A snap of their fingers no magic wands were used,
Ships appeared and over the oceans we cruised.
It was a long journey of sheer delight,
We cruised both by day and by night.
Then it was time to return to mother Earth,
where I happily listened to the fairies mirth.
Now I am back home in my comfortable old house,
I was heartedly greeted by my large family mouse.
I really look forward to seeing Andromeda again,
Perhaps in the spring when we get all of the rain
Bored
Fairies.
All is not well in Fairyland most of the Fairies are making mischief. Quite a few are neglecting their work of painting the flowers, bushes and shrubs. It is very serious and I sent a message with a friendly Robin to tell her Majesty Queen Feeanna of my worries that all is not as it should be. One of the Fairies is going around painting the ripe blackberries green again, now we all know that this is against Mother Nature and it would be a hard time for the birds and animals that relied on the fruits to live, just imagine it no nice ripe blackberries in the summer and autumn when going through the woods, why even the wild strawberries have been turned green again by another Fairy.
I myself tried talking to the Fairies I thought if I could find out what is bothering them it would help to put things right again. All I got for my pains are, “We are bored there is nothing for us to do but work.” “All day long painting the grass the fruits and all of the other things that grow we want to play not work.” Now this I thought is serious Fairies who do not want to work just play. It is against all that the little people were taught at the Fairy school, All fairies have to attend school to learn how to paint and tend the fruits and flowers on this earth. No they do not have paints and paintbrushes they use the magic wands that every Fairy is taught to make at school.
I did not have to wait long before the familiar bright blue flash and the slight puff of smoke and her Majesty was sitting on the fallen tree trunk that served me as a seat whenever I went into the woods to watch and talk to the Fairies. I explained to her Majesty what I had seen and how the Fairies were bored with just working. They wanted to play as well as work. Her Majesty said.” But all the fairies may play in fact it is part of fairy law that fairies may play after they have helped Mother Nature.” Her Majesty called the Fairies together and as soon as they were all seated in a ring. The ring was of toadstools. Her Majesty asked them why they were so bored all Fairies like to help Mother Nature and it was a privilege to paint flowers and things with their magic wands.
The Fairies all spoke together and even I could not understand what they were saying. Her Majesty called one of the older fairies to speak for all of them. The Fairy started off with that there was not much for them to do after they had finished their work it was just that they had nothing to do to keep them occupied. Her Majesty said “What about the dances that I arrange are they not enough?” “What else can I do to keep you all happy that you go about your work properly?” “I leaned over to her Majesty and whispered why not hold an eating party?” It will keep them occupied and there will be peace and contentment for a while.” We can also send them off in parties to the seaside that will give them plenty of things to do. As far as I can tell they are just bored doing the same thing every day after all they are so young.
Her Majesty then said, “My children go back to your work and this evening I will arrange visits for you all to go to the seaside or to Fairies in other parts of Fairyland.”
Tonight we will hold a potato chip eating contest, whoever eats the most chips will be rewarded with two pieces of Magic Gold. Listening to this offer from her Majesty Queen Feeana was a Leprechaun. “Does this apply to all the little folk your Majesty or is it just for the Fairies.” He asked. “It is for all the little folk said her Majesty but Bern here will be watching you all and he will be the judge.” That is how I came to be the Judge of the chip-eating contest. Now all was as it used to be in Fairyland, the fairies went back to work the wild strawberries and the ripe blackberries were quickly made normal again and the Fairies could only speak about the coming chip feast.
If your Fish and Chip shop is not open tonight you know that the Fairies and the little folk are having a chip-eating contest. I with Her Majesty arranged by magic that a fish and chip shop would be brought into the woods and the owner would think that he was at home. All he had to do was fry the chips no Fairy would ever eat a fish that once swam free in a river or in the deep blue sea. The evening arrived and I opened the contest. The chips were carefully weighed so that each contestant had the same amount of weight on his or her plate and off it all started. The fish and Chip man worked hard to make all of the chips that were eaten and all had a good time. I had provided sweet cold tea to wash the chips down.
On one of the toadstools was the Leprechaun who had asked her Majesty if all could come to the contest. He was eating one plate of chips after the other now I thought he will surely win the two pieces of magic gold. The fairies had to mark a piece of bark with their wands when they had eaten a plate of chips. All was going well when I distinctly heard a pig grunt. I looked carefully around and found that tethered behind the Leprechaun was a big fat pig. He was giving the pig his portions of chips. I stopped the contest and disqualified the leprechaun. A sweet little Fairy named Donnafee won the prize. She had managed to eat four plates of chips and deserved the two pieces of magic gold. I told the little folk that there were still plenty of chips for them to eat but no one was interested. All congratulated Donnafee on her win and for a long time there was peace again in Fairyland. We now have regular eating contests and I Bern am always the judge.
Blue
Cows.
In
Fairyland the cows are now all blue,
It is hard to believe but it is very true.
A Witch passing through Fairyland so it is said,
first turned all the cows a most brilliant red.
It seemed she had tried to milk the cows of the Fairies,
But all Fairy cows are milked in the old Fairy Dairies.
The Witch got no milk at all to quench her thirst,
So she cast some coloured spells on the cows at first.
The Fairies magically turned the wicked spells away,
This they did right at the beginning of the new day.
Mumbling to herself the Witch turned the cows blue,
One of the young Leprechauns told me it was true.
The Fairies turned the old Witch into an Oak tree.
It still stands in Fairyland for the entire world to see.
The Fairy Queen changed the cows to black and white.
This she did at the stroke of the new midnight.
If on a farm you should see cows black and white,
You will know the Fairy Queen bewitched them at midnight.
Blue cows on this Earth are now nowhere to be seen.
Thanks to the magic of the beautiful Fairy Queen.
Enchanted
House.
The Fairies are now in my own house,
they were let in by a wee little mouse.
I saw them this morning using a broom,
This took place in my posh front room.
In the kitchen they have eaten my ham,
Buttered them-selves some bread with jam.
The wee little mouse they gave some cheese,
Bless you one Fairy said for I had to sneeze.
My bedroom they have taken completely over,
The wallpaper is now green and full of clover.
Strange happenings all over the house,
as they play hide and seek with the mouse.
I am enchanted with it all you know,
I shall be real disappointed when they go.
Down the banister they slide one by one,
The Fairies and mouse are having great fun.
With Fairy dust they have sprinkled my house,
I owe this all to the little wee mouse.
Grateful I am that they came my way,
For once again they have made my day.
Christmas
Tree.
Two more weeks and it will be the twenty-fifth of December another Christmas day in my long life. Like most people I decided to get a Christmas tree to decorate. This year things will be different though. I am going to buy a tree that is still growing not one that has been cut down. Going along to my garden suppliers I spoke to the owner and asked him if he had such a tree. “Come with me Mr.Shaw I will show you the small plantation where I grow my Christmas trees.” I walked with him to the back of the large premises and then saw the Christmas trees. Row after row of small to medium size Christmas trees were growing in a large area of cleared land. “These are the trees ready for sale, those with a red label are already sold you may choose any of the others.” I walked along the rows of trees until I came to one that was just the right size not to small and not too big. “This is the tree that I would like to buy,” I said. The owner quickly wrote my name and address on a red label and tied it to the tree. “When do you want us to deliver the tree?” he then asked. “Would tomorrow be alright?” I heard myself saying. “Tomorrow will be fine came the answer. We went back into the gardening centre and I paid for my new Christmas tree.
The following day just after ten in the morning; the gardening centre van stopped in front of my house. Two men carried the tree into my winter garden and after I gave them a small monetary tip both said “Good Morning and a very Happy Christmas to you.” I now had my Christmas tree in a large wooden tub and after Christmas was over I would plant it in my back garden and watch it grow. Going into town I went to the green grocer’s and bought all kinds of different nuts. Walnuts, Brazil nuts, and many others the names of which I have forgotten, my next stop was at the butchers, from the butcher I wanted some fat. At the newsagents I bought myself some balls of string then I went back home.
My next move was to decorate my Christmas tree. None of your glass baubles or tinsel for my new tree this tree would be just for the birds that frequent my garden summer and winter. Taking a large needle I threaded string through the nuts that I had previously taken out of their shells and hung them on the tree. Nuts and strips of fat soon covered the tree and I sat back in my chair and admired my work. The birds are going to love this Christmas they will have a real treat at my Christmas tree.
In the back garden I had dug out a hole big enough to take the roots of the tree. In the hole I had placed four large shovels full of rotting compost and the compost I covered with a layer of fresh earth. The hole I had covered with a couple of planks of wood and a small tarpaulin I did not want any frost to get into the hole.
My winter garden is a large glass room and a fairly warm place to sit in. The many plants and flowers delight my eyes whenever I have time to sit in my easy chair and watch them. I sat for quite while looking at the new Christmas tree. Suddenly the top of the tree looked as if someone had placed a blue light on it. The bluish light soon had bathed the whole tree in its eerie glow; I sat watching the tree and the blue glow for a very long time. The tree was still glowing when I went into the kitchen to make my evening meal. Before I went to bed I looked in at the Christmas tree, yet once again the blue light was still there. Christmas day came and I carefully took my tree into the back garden. It was one big struggle to get the tree to where I had dug and prepared my hole. I manage to get the tree in the ground and covered the roots with fresh earth. The eerie glow was still all around the tree a pale blue light. Walking back a few steps I watched as one sparrow flew to the tree and started pecking the fat that I had hung on the tree. Soon many other birds came to the tree and the many hungry birds ate the nuts and the fat. The blue colour stayed with the tree until the spring came in. One morning as I went into the garden to do some work I saw that the Christmas tree was now a lush green and it is still growing.
Where the blue light came from and why it stayed with the tree until the spring I do not know but I like to think that the blue light was a sign for the hungry birds to come and eat their fill. What do you think?
Butterfly.
I
saw a lovely butterfly,
dancing an age-old dance.
Fluttering from flower to flower,
as if in permanent trance.
From buttercup to daisy on to sweet smelling rose,
I in my humility watching your each ecstatic pose.
Rising on high sinking so low,
Each nuance of colour a friendly glow.
You are not miserly your brilliance to show,
seeking sweet nectar from heavenly blooms.
Lifting me up high from out of my glooms,
Were you sent from heaven on high?
Descending through a warm summer sky.
Dainty but tireless in your earthly flight,
Where do you retire in the darkness of night?
At the break of dawn I will see you again,
Performing your dance of perpetual fame.
Delightful to see a treat for my eyes,
You heavenly visitor from out of the skies.
Chinese
Dragon.
Once upon a time, in far away China there lived a mighty Dragon. This was the biggest Dragon that the world had ever seen. The peoples of China respected this Dragon and made it their national symbol. The Emperor of China had all of his letters and every piece of paper that left one of his ministries to be embossed with a picture of the Dragon. The Dragon became well known all over China and later the entire known world in that far off age.
The Emperor next had an idea that all papers and letters that held the stamp of the Dragon should be taxed. It was a new way of getting money into his treasury. He gave orders that even the poor people must pay the tax. This was too much, the poor people had enough work on their hands to pay the ordinary taxes and now this new tax, it was definitely too much. The Emperor then had messages sent to all of the Chinese towns villages and cities. It was either pay the tax or prison.
Things got so bad that the peoples of China decided to overthrow the Emperor. But how were they to get rid of him? He had a huge well-paid army. The army was on his side. High in the mountains south of Beijing a young peasant boy that looked after his father sheep met up with the huge Dragon. The boy had often had adventures with tigers where he defended his father’s sheep so he had no fear of a Dragon. The two both Dragon and farmer’s boy got on really well together and became very good friends.
One day when the boy was out looking after his father’s sheep, a terrible thing happened, the boy’s father was arrested and thrown into the local prison. This was very hard on the family. The farmer’s wife had four children and it was difficult to clothe and feed them all. Now her husband had been thrown into the local jail, because he could not pay the taxes on the Dragon’s picture that was on every document that the family owned.
One-day the farmer’s boy, being peeved about his father being in prison told the Dragon that he the Dragon was to blame for all of the misery in China. The Dragon wanted to know how he was to blame he was not the Emperor. He had never passed a law or a tax in the whole of his long life so why blame him? It was the greedy Emperor who was to blame and the people should rise against the emperor and take over the land for themselves, then they would only have to pay taxes for such things as roads or water works, sewage and all of the things that keep the towns and cities connected with one another.
The boy and the Dragon remained friends and slowly the boy grew into a man. He was a big man that commanded respect, how many men could say that they had fought with tigers and won the fight. The boy was a good organiser and soon his father and all of the others that could not pay taxes were let out of prison and all formed together to go to Beijing to get rid of the Emperor. All had had enough of this greedy man. The boy now a man told his friend the Dragon that he was going away to fight the Emperor. The Dragon decided to go with the new army to see what man had placed his picture on all official documents.
The new army got bigger and bigger, they saw that a real live Dragon was helping the poor people and all decided to go and fight against the laws that were crippling the land. Nothing could go wrong with a Dragon as helper. The Emperor heard the news that a huge army was on the way to get rid of him because of his harsh way of ruling. He became for the first time in his life afraid.
His fear and bad conscience led him to disguise himself and leave the palace by a secret door known only to him self. By the time the peoples led by the boy and the Dragon got to the palace the soldiers had all left their posts and the boy and the Dragon took over the palace and formed a new government. The new government was made up of so many rich people and so many poor people their numbers were even. The Dragon was the new leader of the parliament and a new way of life was born for all of the Chinese peoples. The Dragon is still honoured in China and this Dragon lived for a long time and all was well in that huge land.
The boy went back home his job in the city was over and he went back to tending his father’s sheep. Things got better and better in the whole of China and soon his mother and father were well off, not rich, but well off.
Daisies
and Roses.
The
Daisies in my front garden,
Are gossiping yet again.
They ask and give no pardon,
And are driving me insane.
Telling tales About the Roses,
Helps them pass the time.
I’ll pick them to make posies,
It will surely be no crime.
The Roses they are blushing,
They’ve turned a pinkie red.
Their words are quite crushing.
I think I’ll put them all to bed.
The Daisies must stop talking,
It is time for them to be quiet.
I’ll give the lawn a chalking,
That will cause a riot.
Now the Roses and the Daisies,
Are all tucked up in bed.
My thoughts are now quite hazy,
I’m glad no blood has been shed.
In
Fairyland some one committed a crime,
the first since the very beginning of time.
From a Leprechaun was stolen a pot of gold,
This left him feeling bitter with a want to scold.
Only a fairy could have committed this foul deed,
I was asked to find the culprit at very high speed.
I called a meeting all the fairies were to attend,
This could be the start of a very serious trend.
I questioned each fairy one by one,
every fairy daughter, every fairy son.
All were innocent of this I am sure,
My nerves were blank I was feeling quite sore.
Then one of the fairies admitted to this crime,
She stole the gold just to appear in my rhyme.
I have never mentioned a fairies name before,
For there are many fairies at least four score.
She shyly told me that her name was Jo Ann,
Stealing the gold was just part of her plan.
The glittering leprechaun gold she did not want at all,
She did not realise that stealing would bring her to fall.
To have her name mentioned in my rhyme,
There was no need for her to commit a crime.
I am now not only a Prince in Fairyland,
Also a detective, which is just as grand.
Jo Ann gave the Leprechaun back his gold,
I had asked him sweet Jo Ann not to scold.
Now Jo Ann is pleased with this my little rhyme,
I have mentioned her name for the fourth time.
