Girasol Y La Hada Poem by Nika McGuin

Upon her head
tight amber spirals
moving freely, cascading downward
to meet, a sweet treat,
her skin the color of buttered toffee
accompanied by the delicate aroma
of freshly creamed coffee

The girl's name was Girasol
and she walked through life
much as would a tightrope artist
always one foot in front of the other
lined up perfectly, as if she were
a ballerina, until she arrived
at her destination

The only thing is, she never knew
quite what that was. So she kept on
walking endlessly, tracking her line
of footprints, trailing through
enchanted forests, sleepless cities,
and uncharted islands around the world

At one point, Girasol began to feel as if
nothing would ever change, that her journey
was an endless one with no definite purpose
suddenly she fell, spiraling downward
like her numerous russet coils of hair
into a well of hopelessness that not even,
a downed tightrope could draw her up out of

It was then,
that she heard the tiniest of voices
accompanied by a most other-worldly tinkling
at once, there was light in the well
there at the bottom, amidst the moist cinder blocks
a coral colored phosphorescence flickered

It took the shape of a crystalline sphere
and as it floated about the well's bedrock
Girasol recognized the ethereal creature, slowly
as if remembering a long since forgotten dream
and her mouth opened in utter surprise at the revelation
... it was a fairy, & more surprising still,
it was talking to her - to Girasol Mundial:

Girasol! , Girasol! , wake up niña
you weren't meant to stay here so long
your journey must continue child -
not just for your sake, but for
the sakes of those whom you will touch
whilst making your way

Despair not, your fortune will change
even if it doesn't happen as swiftly
as you would like...
[here the fairy's voice trembled with passion]
Remember this Girasol, just as you
placed one foot in front of the other,
change happens the same way, small steps!
one small occurrence leads to another &
before you know it, you'll look behind you
and find yourself miles away from this decrepit well
so get up now mija, I'm flying you out of here
back to where you belong:

That giant tightrope in the sky!