“Walking in the woods today, I came upon a fairy door,” wrote my friend Kim in a text. She suggested I use it here for a poetry prompt.
From Wikipedia: “A fairy door is a miniature door, usually set into the base of a tree, behind which may be small spaces where people can leave notes, wishes, or gifts for the fairies.”
An open invitation for imagination. I’m curious about the R on this door. Is it part of an alphabet trail? Is it the first or last initial for the person who made it? Is there a fairy with that initial?
Today I am choosing to write an elfchen. Somehow a fairy door calls for an elfchen poem.
Fairy
holds wishes
in the forest
Delicate balance of presence
Oracle
I invite you into this magical forest to let go of concerns and be imaginative. Write a small poem in the comments. Join me on Instagram during the month of May writing #smallpoems, #poemsofpresence. Tag me @margaretgsimon.
Reflections on the Teche 
Here’s a gagyohka poem.
Fairies peek
from behind doors
watching the world
forget magic
still exists.
I had to look up the form. Gogyohka It’s similar to an elfchen. I love the image of the fairies peeking at the world. Thanks for sharing your poem.
Diane, wow. I love that the fairies are “watching the world / forget magic / still exists”. It speaks truth and makes me sad. Great poem. Thanks for the new form.
I love, tea and toast right here. There is something magical about going to a tea. And so this line makes perfect sense. I’m in.
Thanks for the new form, Diane! I love imagining those fairies peeking out.
Margaret, Oracle is such a great word to end this with. I love “Delicate balance of presence” too. An elfchen was a perfect form choice!
I’ve combined Georgia Heard’s prompt, the fairy door, and a shadorma today. All thanks to you and Kim for the inspiration.
I wish we could all meet for tea and toast.
Love how you combined the two prompts, Denise. I’m still thinking of mine for Georgia.
Margaret, I am still fascinated by this door! Thanks for sharing it today! I’m using your Shadorma form – 3,5,3,3,7,5
one fairy
door can lead to a
magical fantasy
world beyond your wildest dreams!
come, let’s go in!
Thanks for sending it to me. My students are enjoying it too. I like how a short form can give us a container for a poem.
Thanks for the great picture prompt, Kim!
Kim, nice! I want to go to this “magical fantasy / world” Let’s go!
Like Narnia’s door. irresistible.
Love this prompt, Margaret!
Who lives here?
I think I know –
The Rosewood fairies
Ready to enchant
Visitors who come calling.
Let’s go!
What a fun ditty! With notes of Robert Frost.
Rose, I love that you gave the fairy family a name. “Ready to enchant” is my favorite line.