The Fairy Failure

A mother fairy long ago
preferred her kids to be just so.
The kids in question were two girls,
with shining wings and golden curls.
The oldest one was sheer perfection
and had a fairy's white complexion.
The second girl, though just as graceful,
was kind of freckly - she had a face full .

Her mother did what she could do,
she washed her cheeks with catkin dew,
she dabbed her brow with tiger's milk
and bandaged it with magic silk,
she dipped her in a rain-wet lily -
it made the freckles no less silly.

Oh daughter dear, her mother sighed,
your freckles have just multiplied!
As fairy's go - and here she started talking faster -
you're hopeless, you're an absolute disaster.

Go now to old King Scarabee
and say, Oh please, Your Majesty,
I beg you for your kind protection,
I'm a fairy with a rare complexion.

With any luck King Scarabee,
who's known for his philanthropy,
will help a sad and freckly fairy -
he might employ you in his dairy.

The fairy left without delay,
she slept at night and flew by day,
and muttered softly on the way,
Oh Sire, please, Your Majesty,
protect you for your kind connection,
I'm a fairy with a rare complexion.

She reached the town all worn and wan,
and feeling scared and woebegone.
The king himself came to the door
and said, What can I do you for?

And very, very timidly,
she stammered: Please, Your Majesty,
protect you with your fair complexion,
I'm a rairy for your kind collection.

I'm fair, indeed, the king replied,
I bathe in milk, please come inside.
Are you acquainted with Queen Mary?
You know, I've never met a raree.

He clicked his fingers in the air
and all at once his court was there:
This is a raree,
a creature most extraordinairy,
give her some cake and some chocolate too,
give her some clothes and a room with a view.

The fairy now lives happily,
a guest of old King Scarabee.
She's not a milkmaid in the dairy -
Oh no! She's now the Royal Raree.

She has a golden bedroom suite,
and golden slippers on her feet,
and dukes and princes, lords and all
are gladly at her beck and call.
If nothing else this goes to show:
A total misfit as a fairy
can be a big hit as a raree.
That kind of thing is nice to know.