The Emerald Town Of Hope Poem by Alexander Smetanin

There lives a Kind Wizard in the Emerald Town, Goodwin, and those who know him say that he is able to show real miracles. Every morning the Wizard takes a great soft brush and draws a colorful rainbow over the Emerald Town. This rainbow bridge is not only to be watched and admired its bright colors but also to be walked on and to have fun sliding down with friends.
That clear day would begin as usual if not but one wonderful adventure…
-Where are my paints? -the Kind Goodwin asked a guard of the Emerald Town uncle Misha. - I've been looking for them all morning and can't find them anywhere. How wouldthe children get here?
- Yeah, it is not an easy task - uncle Misha agreed touching his new blue hat. - It has been raining all night, and the paints have been washed away by the rain. I guess, you need to collect a new palette of the magic paints.
Looking up the Kind Goodwin noticed a drop of yellow color which slipped behind the fluffy cloud hiding from the rain.
- Come here, baby! -the wizard was delighted to meet the drop and offered her his open hand. - Will you go with me to collect new paints?
- I'd love to! - responded a yellow drop and sat herself comfortably in the Wizard's hand. - How can we find the right way?
- It‘s very easy, just look! - responded the Wizard and placed the Drop upon his shoulder. - The rain has washed away the rainbow and so all the paints have just streamed down our road to the Emerald Town. Have a look at it! This is the way we'll go!
Really the wide road leading to the Town became unusual as if it was made of precious stones. Every stone which had been sitting there turned into a piece ofpatchwork.
-Let's go! - said the Wizard putting on a warm red scarf.
So that very morning the Kind Goodwin and a little yellow Drop set out to look for a new palette of the magic paints.
The friends were walking down a new patchwork road singing happily and having fun coloring the flowers yellow. The nature was delighted with them and sang along.
Suddenly the Kind Goodwin raised his hand and stopped. He listened to the sounds carefully and felt uneasy the way he would feel when someone needed his help.
- Someone is in trouble. I have to hurry and help! - said the Wizard to the Drop speeding his step.
He did not want anything to escape out of his sight. His face showed concern and his smile faded. After a while the friends came out to a big forest meadow. It was quite different from what the Kind Goodwin has seen before. Trees and grass there were not green but grey, forest flowers closed theirbuds and didn't blossom.
- What happened here? - The yellow Drop was scared. - Who could ever do it in our forest?
- Anguish and misery live here now. - said the Kind Goodwin quietly and looked around. - Who could let them in - that's the question!
- Hello! -said someone politely. - Are you the Kind Wizard who helps all the children?
Goodwin saw a thin woman with big sad eyes, she was holding a little girl about four or five years old who was looking silently away.
- My name is Maria, I'm Vera's Mother -she said pointing at the child. -I need your help so much! I just don't know who else I can turn to.
She stopped speaking and her sad eyes filled with tears.
- There is no need to cry, my dear! You are breaking my heart- said the kind Goodwin and wiped salty tears with his red scarf. - Let's sit down right on the grass and you‘ll tell me everything.
- Well, there is not much I can tell you - the young woman and the Wizard settled themselves comfortably under the tree.- I'm sorry, it's been too much for me these days, I couldn't hold it. Three year ago I had a baby. Then we found out that she had a disease called autism which actually affected our lives.Wherever we went for advice, whatever wetried to do, had no obvious results. My heart was about to break when I heard about the Emerald Town. I was told that special children like my little Vera study here.
- That's right Maria - replied Goodwinkindly and smiled heartily.-There is a place for every special child in our Emerald Town. Real magicians work here who love children and are able to help them.
- Does it mean I may have a hope to see the Emerald Town?
- Hope is something magic which will never end. Love and charityhave no end either. You can find them in our town.
- Is it easy to get to the Town? Shall we have enough strengthsto make it there?
Kind Goodwin laughed happily and pointed at the colored road.
- Everyone has his own way - he said to Maria.- Someone takes a straight and wide path, but someone takes a hard and difficult path. What matters is that everyone may have it. If you set a goal and try to reach it with all your heart you will get there!
He helped Maria to get up. Then theKind Goodwin came up to the little girl and sat down next to her. He was holding the Drop in his hand, then placed it by the little girl. That very moment the meadow startedchanging.The Drop was jumping from one blade of grass to another, from leaf to leaf coloring everything around with different colors. Goodwin took a soft brush and started drawing. All the things touched by the magician's brush became lovely and alive! Anguish and misery got scared and stepped back. They were trying hard to stay, clingingto the tree branches with their grey and skinny fingers.But they got burned and whined because of disillusionment, helplessness. The power of life and beauty occupied the whole forest.
Suddenly, someone touched the magicians hand and when he turned he saw the little girl viewing the artist's brush. He handed her the brush and turned to the mother:
- Thank you, Kind Goodwin, for the fairy tale in the forest- said Maria from the heart.
- It' s only the beginning, believe me! -he responded kindly.- Well, the Drop, it's time for us to collect a new palette for the rainbow of the Emerald Town.
-I have already done it- said the little helper. - Now we need to hurry back.
- Ok, let's go then!
- We could help color the way to the Emerald Town- suggested Maria.- I am sure, a lot of children and parents would like to learn from you. We need to leave them a sign, so that they would know where to get help and support.
- That is a great idea! -said Goodwin.- Let everyone know that whenever he needs help the Emerald Town is waiting for you!
On the way back, the travelers met different parents and children who followed the colored road.
- Welcome everyone! - Goodwin greeted them.- We are happy to see you! Follow me, please!
All those who wished they received nice brushes and saw Goodwin pour the magic paints of the forest down on the ground. Children and grown-ups, laughing and smiling started drawing the rainbow for the Emerald Townto be able to walk on it and slide downas iffrom a hill.
Well, you see that real magic can happen! That day gave people not only a wonderful trip which turned the life of the Emerald Town but also a cherished hope. Hope for the families to provide their children with a happy childhood…