Poem #13: Grandfather's Storybook

Grandfather has a storybook

with many ancient tales

of kings and queens and sorcerers 

and ships with tattered sails.

He reads to Bernadette and I 

with fire in his eyes

and as he reads he is transformed

beneath the starry skies. 

One night he is a handsome prince, 

one night, a fearsome beast, 

a dragon set to kill my sister

for his autumn feast.

And so I drew my mighty sword 

and clove his head in twain

while Bernadette clung to my flowing 

cloak and called my name. 

Then from the gruesome beast's remains

sprang a familiar form
just like a phoenix dead, and
 from the ashes then reborn

"Grandfather!" we two cried and ran
to meet his warm embrace.
He laughed his deep and fruity laugh,
a smile lit his face.

But then he said, "Be off with you!
Inside, and then to bed.
For if you don't, your mother
with her ax will take my head."

But while we crept inside the house,
I turned for one last look,
he lit his pipe with dragon fire
then closed the Storybook