Fairyland City Poem by Marlin Nightingale

Sit down with me, young lad or lass,
And a story to you I will tell,
Of a fairyland city way up in the blue,
Where many young children do dwell.

It 'tis' far in the sky, spread on those puff clouds,
And a ladder extends here to hence.
All a little boy needs is to find where it starts,
And climb, like he's climbing a fence.

At the base of the ladder a green forest grows,
Delightingly lush, so exquisite,
Where the deer dance about and the butterflies flit,
I'm sure they'll be proud of your visit.

In the midst of the life behind ivy and vines,
You'll find a most curious sight,
A tree with a trunk so colossal and tall,
The forest is dwarfed by its might.

If you'll climb this tree, with it's branches so broad,
Near the top there's a welcome surprise,
Through brisk branches and leaves you can glimpse that ladder,
Which will carry you up in the skies.

Oh the silent breeze wafts to you breathes of fresh air
Fields of flowers their sweet fragrance lend
Then you step to the ladder and on the first rung,
You pause as you take it all in.

There's a mystical magical feel to it all,
On that ladder that reaches the clouds,
Every step has a tingle of perfect delight,
You ascend through the forest's green shroud

Ascending the ladder as quick as a wink
We're nearing the top, now listen to me-
Poke your head through the top of those
wonder-fluff clouds-
Then-what is the first thing you see?

And Oh! What a glistening sight to behold!
A city of candy with chocolate streets,
What colorful mansions with pink taffy curtains!
And yeah! for the licorice trees!

Come on a bit further, but don't take a lick,
There is someone watching you'll care to observe
Just behind the green bushes (whose leaves taste of mint)
are pointy-eared elves, their necks in a curve.

They peer and they giggle and chuckle with glee
And each time the laughter doth take to the air
The gumdrops and toffee that grow on the trees
Do dropp to the ground on the green grasses fair!

Let us skip down the street, there are many more sights
To behold, in this wonderful place
And then! , round the corner an elvish man dashes,
There's a mischievious smile on his face.

To his lips he is holding a horn of pink candy,
And he blows it with might as he runs,
Its silvery notes thru the air light and dancing
Seem to speak of amusement and fun

Then hark, what a jubilant sound is approaching!
The air seems to float on the beat of a song,
For the rich atmosphere doth hold our attention,
And rounding the corner pell-mell and headlong,

Is a coach with white horses and lollipop wheels,
While the soldiers behind in the great cavalcade
Are frantically trying to rein in their horses
Who are nibbling the candy that grows in the shade.

The big fancy coach that the horses are pulling
Does race and does bounce up the street straight toward us
But before we're run over, this white chocolate carriage-,
It slides to a halt, raising fine chocolate dust,

The street, for a moment, is silent- and whispers
Of wonder soon float thru the air,
As the coach curtains part and a figure steps out
We are holding our breath at the man standing there.

His figure is stately and posture is perfect
And there gleams on his head a pure circle of gold.
He steps down from the carriage, this king of the city,
The words that he speaks sounding welcome yet bold.

Ah! Friends of this city today you become,
He says, as he gallantly nods
And so as a friend you must ride with me then
As we travel this city so broad.

So soon in his carriage we're rushing away
On plush pillows and seats we recline
Til the king looks at us and says, 'What do you say'
Shall we go to a palace of mine?

The dashing white horses, the colorful street
Become blurred at the speed we are going
And I wonder and hope that the coach driver knows
Just the right time and place to be slowing.

Now the palace is showing itself up ahead,
With its magic, ethereal shapes,
Light from the palace grows brighter in color
And gently it falls cross my face.

As the light on my face there grows brighter and brighter,
My view of the palace is dimmed,
For at first i'm not sure what is happening to me
And I pinch myself firm on the chin.

The sound of the streets fades quickly away,
I no longer can see up ahead,
And then in a flash, I am suddenly gone
from that place in the clouds, - to my bed

I lay there a moment, awake from my dream
And pondered the places I saw,
Then taking a yawn I decided i'd better
Try to get some more sleep, and that's all.