and you invite your demons to tea,
and you learn to listen to all their stories.
Sometimes war is not the answer.
After all, light needs the darkness
to glisten against, what are we without our sins?
The moon’s glow in rhapsody calm
would hardly be so soothing, without
the dark shawl night drapes behind it.
So sing a soft lullaby
to the things you hate about yourself,
and get to know them too.
Remind yourself the gentleness
of your own love is also meant to go
to the very darkest parts of you.
Four Spells to Keep Inside Your Mouth
‘I respect myself’—the most powerful incantation that will change your whole life if you believe it when you say it.
‘My heart is too valuable for you’—the spell that will set you free from any destructive soul.
‘I believe in you’—the best gift you can ever give anyone else.
‘No’—a single, commanding, two-letter spell with the ability to liberate you if only you learn to use it unapologetically and cast it without fear.
Forest Person
When was the last time you spoke
to the trees that are growing inside
your mind, the leaves in your sinews?
When was the last time you fell
in love with the roots they leave
inside the base of you?
Did you not know
that you are where fairies roam?
That you are where the spirit bends?
simmering secrets sweet
to be savoured in silence,
Just you and no one else.
Soft secrets like you are best
kept to yourself.
This world will lie to you
and tell you that forest inside you
does not exist.
Do not believe
the well-meaning words of people
who have not heard the birds inside you take flight.
Do not believe the hurtful words of people
who would prefer to turn you into a forest fire,
reduce you to soot and ash.
Do not believe anything
except the whispers
of the trees.
They have never
lied to you.
They won’t start now.
The Healing
Sometimes healing
is the way you become yourself,
a path made of thorns
which could lead you
to your own incredible destiny.
Sometimes healing
is how Little Red Riding Hood
because every woman
has a howl trapped in her chest.
Sometimes healing
is how Cinderella
never gave up on herself,
because she knew deep down
how to love herself.
Sometimes healing
is the story of a villainess
who was not a villainess at all,
just someone hurting from their trauma
and not having a good friend to call.
Sometimes healing
wears the name of a human
when you are stuck in a tower
with no other way down
but your own long hair.
But on most days healing
wears your own name
painted in your own blood,
messy, hard to tame,
but the only way to learn self-love.
Happily Ever After
I was never taught
graceful love until I met you
and found my heart in sync with yours.
You helped me build
a happily ever after and made me
Thank you for opening
your souls to me, my sisters
when all others were closed doors
Thank you for loving me
when I still tasted
of heartache and war.
Acknowledgments
There are so many people I owe worlds of gratitude that it would fill libraries if I wrote them down. What a blessing it is to live on this earth with so many people with such good hearts, and thank you sometimes falls short.
So to start this, with heartfelt gratitude to: my parents and grandparents for giving me the gift of thousands of stories and thousands of books to read. My brother for always giving me perspective and supporting me. Emma for being the incredible and patient editor and wonderful friend that she is. Clare and my little Layla for being my family. Steve for standing by me even when I thought I was all alone. Bianca and Chris for always believing in me and the work. Tristan and Joanna for being the most excellent people with the biggest hearts. Amanda and Trista for being the soft, good souls that this universe has placed on this earth to show it what kindness is. Tomas, Anne, Zabiba, Leanne, and all the lovely people at Trapeze who made this book a possibility. Shaun and Alison for being so welcoming and wonderful. Leopoldo for being my guardian angel. Emma and Lauz for their gentle spirits and warm laughter and love.
And finally, to you, dear reader, for seeing this journey with me through the magic and the fairytales and the legends to the end. I hope it aids you whilst you are out there building your own marvelous fairytale too.
About the Author
Nikita Gill is a British-Indian writer and poet living in the south of England. With a huge online following, she has entranced hearts and minds all over the world.
Follow Nikita’s work:
Instagram: @nikita_gill
Tumblr: meanwhilepoetry.tumblr.com
Facebook: nikitagillwrites
Twitter: @nktgill
Also by Nikita Gill
Wild Embers: Poems of Rebellion, Fire, and Beauty
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