Mother Moon Bear
Every Christmas Eve Mother Moon Bear would rock back and forth in the crescent moon and sing a song of hope and cheer.
Slowly, slowly, the stars would begin to sing too, and as the Universe filled with joy they would glow a little brighter.
THE ACROBAT MICE
There once was a retired fortune-teller, Madame Luna, who missed the excitement and glamour of the travelling fair. Sitting in her cosy wooden caravan, as she wistfully looked through her treasured photograph album, some friendly mice decided to try and cheer her up. They hopped up on the table and politely asked if they could be of assistance. The fortune-teller considered their kind offer and a smile soon appeared on her face.
In only a few minutes the mice were dressed in fancy costumes made from one of her old scarves, and then Madame Luna opened up her precious jewellery box. The mice gasped as they saw the glittering pile of gold and jewels and they were each handed a beautiful golden hoop earring.
The fortune-teller let down her hair and swirled a multi-coloured shawl around her shoulders.
'Roll up! Roll up! she cried. 'Come and see the world famous acrobatic mice!'
The two mice danced and whirled on the table top and performed the most skilful feats of daring and dexterity that you ever did see.
And for many years after, Madame Luna and the acrobatic mice spent many magical happy evenings together.
BABOOSHKA
Babooshka was so tall and strong she could reach up and borrow a star or two to help her cast her healing spells.
To thank the stars for their help, she would warm them by the fire until they were glowing brightly again.
She would then pull on her woollen mittens and gently put the glowing stars back into the night sky
MRS WHIPPLE
Mrs Whipple ran a boarding house for retired circus folk and music hall stars.
She would listen intently to their stories as she served their breakfasts,
and would sway from side to side as they sang their songs at supper time.
Sometimes, when she swept the floor she would find an old sequin glinting on
the scullery tiles,
and Mrs Whipple would become misty-eyed and sigh longingly to herself.
IMBOLC
When the first day of Spring arrives,
she will whisper to the birds,
and the creatures,
and the flowers.
She will gently shake the branches of the willow tree
to wake them from their slumbers.
And she will prise open the petals of the snowdrops
to tell them that she has returned.
Just as she promised she would.
THE QUEEN OF THE MOON AND STARS
As the sun begins to rise, the Queen collects the moon and the stars from the sky.
She carefully wipes away the tarnish left behind by the night,
and makes them gleam again as she gently polishes.
BE A GOOD GIRL
'Straight back.
Shoulders down.
Be a good girl'.
PASSING STORM
When the storm clouds are approaching,
take the birds out of the trees
and give them shelter.
It will soon pass by.
QUEEN OF MIDSUMMER
The birds decorated her gown with flowers
and grasses.
They gave her their most colourful shimmering feathers,
and asked the beautiful dragonflies
to hover around her skirt.
For then she could be the Queen of Midsummer.
THE TALE OF THE BLACKBIRD'S DAUGHTER
There was once a kind and hard-working carpenter and his wife who lived in the middle of a forest.
Although they were very happy, they longed for a child.
One morning, while feeding the birds by the back door,
the carpenter's wife wished for a daughter.
The very next day, a beautiful blue speckled egg dropped down the chimney.
To their astonishment there was a tiny baby inside the broken shell.
As the years passed by, the baby grew into a beautiful young lady.
Every evening, as the sun went down and the forest grew quiet,
she would sing the most beautiful song.
And if you saw her in a certain light,
you could just see from the corner of your eye,
the slightest glimpse of her shadow wings.
THE TALE OF MRS BRACKEN
Mrs Bracken, the kindly fox, baked the most delicious pies.
Every morning the birds would bring her berries and the ripest fruit from the forest.
Mrs Bracken gave them their breakfast and would scatter the crumbs from her tattered pinny.
Every evening, the animals would feast on pastries, pies and other delights while the birds sang,
and afterwards the squirrels would sweep away the ashes from the oven with their tails.
THE BLACKBIRD'S SONG
There once was a girl who wanted to know all about the big, wide world.
But she never travelled afar.
So when it was twilight she asked the black bird.
And he told her all the answers to her questions in his song.
BACKLIT HARE
When the British summer time paints the fields an eye-scorching mustard yellow,
the quieter hares who usually frequent the shadier edges,
creep out into the joyous sea of colour.
Their shadows are darker and deeper in there.
THE TWO PRINCES
There were once two princes,
but there was only one golden crown.
So the brothers put that in the back of the cupboard,
and wore paper party hats instead.
WANDERINGS...
A hare set sail one fine morning.
He'd been told that hares do not do such things.
'If hares do not do such things, how do they know if it can't be done?'
he pondered to himself as he sailed the Seven Seas.
