When I was younger
I believed in fairies.

I believed so vigorously
that their very existence became a part of me.

I could envision their transparent wings
flitting as they moved
and their elegant, hand-stitched dresses
swaying in the breeze.
I believed in their mysterious world
under the willow tree in my back yard
and their parties lite by the moon and the stars.

My mother would hide
tiny notes in size-10 font around the house
all addressed from my friends
the fairies.
I always returned them.
My pen-pals and I
were more than happy.

This was my innocence
and my naivety was bliss;
it was cluelessness
that everyone was okay with. 

The deception was harmless
and when I learned the truth
I was okay with it.

But some deceptions
I wish I remained clueless to.

I wish I could believe
in “happily-ever-afters” again.
But princes in golden ball gowns
and knights on gallant steads
can’t exist
in a world where
girls too drunk
and men too cold
run too Vegas
to be betrothed.  

I wish I could believe
in “love at first sight” once more.
But the classic
boy meets girl
chance encounter at a coffee shop
can’t exist
in a world where
men are too quick to judge
a girl based on her boobs or her butt
and girls are too quick to fall
for a boy
that seems to have the world
in the palm of his hands.

I wish I could believe
that “true love comes to those who wait”
but the sweet sob story
trail of broken hearts
to find the one and only
can’t exist
in a world where
‘I love you’s’ role of the tongue
and sex and babies
come before love.

Deceptions have altered
uncovered truths no longer innocent.
These lies protect a living hope
but these truths tarnish a dying soul.