Flower Fairies of the Trees: Silver Birch

Back in 1992 I got a really special book of poems from one of my aunts. It's one of those books that is always fun to read, no matter what age you are. Even now that I'm a "grown up", this book is always kept out where I can flip through it anytime I want.

For those of you who have heard of the Flower Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker, I'm sure you will agree that her poems and illustrations are just so unique and memorable. Her work dates back to the 1920s, when her original editions were first published. The fact that we're still enjoying these stories decades later shows what an extremely talented artist she was.

As soon as springtime comes around, I love to thumb through the different poems and get excited for the Earth to spring to life.

Today I will share one of my favorites with you...with others to follow as my yard wakes up!

THE SONG OF THE SILVER BIRCH FAIRY

There's a gentle tree with a satiny bark,

All silver-white, and upon it, dark,

Is many a crosswise line and mark -

She's a tree there's no mistaking!

The Birch is this light and lovely tree,

As light and lovely still is she

When the Summer's time has come to flee

As she was at Spring's awaking.


She has new Birch-catkins, small and tight,

Though the old ones scatter

and take their flight,

And the little leaves, all yellow and bright,

In the autumn winds are shaking.

And with fluttering wings

and hands that cling,

The fairies play and the fairies swing

On the fine thin twigs,

that will toss and spring

With never a fear of breaking.