Poem #4: The Dragon

In an old little mointain where the grass is green,

there lived a young little dragon who was ever keen

to find his place on the battlefields

and kill fearsome knights with their swords and their shields. 

His mother said, "Don't you go out, young man,

for the knights will kill you, if they can. 

Just stay by the mountain, and all will be fine. 

Leave the fights to the older dragons, son of mine."

Now nearby the cave that was the little dragon's home

dwelt a little dragon maiden, not quite fully grown. 

She was sleek and fair and her eyes so bright,

and our little dragon watched for her every night. 

She was out picking flowers one day on the hill, 

when there came by two knights who were eager to kill. 

One saw her there and he drew his sharp sword,

while the other pulled an arrow back on its cord. 

Now our little dragon boy saw the knights standing there, 

and he called to his lady, "Fair maiden, beware!"

Then he leaped in between her and the skulking knights, 

and he drew back a breath to prepare for the fight. 

With his breath, the little dragon summoned fire to burn, 

but the knights saw him do this and away they turned!

And they ran down the mountain screaming for their mums, 

while the dragon stood tall in the light of the sun. 

Then his mother came out, and his father as well, 

for they had heard the screaming knights, and smelled the knights' smell.

Then they spotted their son standing tall and proud

and the smoke puffing from his nostrils like two clouds. 

Said the dragon maiden: "I thank you so much, kind sir. 

For if you hadn't come, I wouldn't have stirred

from my place in the flowers with the knights so near."

And the little dragon said, "Not at all, my dear."

Then the dragon was honored both in tale and in song, 

for he had sent the knights back to where they belong. 

And the fair dragon kissed him and they danced in the light

of the moon and the stars on the mountain heights.

THE END