Soldier’s Account of a War Fairy
by Eve Gaal

Rising from the desert floor like static electricity,
Swirling in wispy temerity,
Right there in camp I heard coarse laughter--
Dancing moths made the lights flicker,
Directly in front of me like a bad TV.

Charged particles whirling into some sort of dream,
My eyesight had failed or so it seemed.
Figured mess hall cooking might make me heave.
I cursed our Captain for signing my leave.

Perplexed, I wanted to understand,
Why this troll rose from shifting sand-
Then snickering he plopped down with a spin,
Smiling a mysterious, elfish and impish grin. 

A mirage on a mission?
Possible allergies?
My senses twitched and his words came clear,
Everything switched and I lost my fears.
(Perhaps I was tired yearning for my cot.
It was warm after all, and certainly hot.)

I saw in his face something earthy and deep,
A look that said he had secrets to keep.
Still he spoke very fast and I wish I’d recall,
The magic he wished on my behalf and all.

This teetering angel or mischievous doll,
Clattered and chattered on like a geese,
Some obvious message about wanting world peace,
Then he spun around flitting away whence he came,
My ears still abuzz when a true sense of calm
Descended on me under a palm.

Tomorrow they ship me away from my home,
Far from my family even far from this gnome.
‘Morrow will pass’ that’s what he said,
And I will sleep once again in my own double bed.

Inhaling I stood, after tying my boots--
Who will believe the things that I say?
When describing my vision of twilight’s wee fay
Telling me, I’m safe from harm or barrage--
While wearing my green and beige camouflage.


Biography

Her writing has appeared in The First Line Magazine, and in various anthologies such as Fiction Noir-13 Stories or God Makes Lemonade, My Funny Valentine and Goose River Anthology, all available on Amazon.
Find more of Eve’s writing at: http://thedesertrocks.blogspot.com.