The Dragon's Reign

WARNING - This is quite a long poem and I suppose it is really for children, but I hope those that have the inclination and the patience to read it, will enjoy the story. THE DRAGON’S REIGN One day the dragon master called upon his friends he said, “The time has come my fiery beasts, to talk to you of man. Until this day I’ve kept you shy of all but dragons breath, but these men that share the earth with us would bring about our death.” The youngest dragon wagged his tail, and shyly raised his hand “Oh great master of the flame,” said he “I have heard such tales of man. In the dragon’s playground, stories of men are told, and how they come dressed in armour to prove that they are bold.” The dragon master smiled at him and gravely shook his head, “Tis true, my little dragon friend, these men would have us dead.” From all around the cavern, murmurs rose in smoke there was an air of discontent, then the female dragon spoke, “These men,” said she, “are tiny fools, breathing naught but air, I do not believe they threaten us - I do not believe they’d dare.” “Oh lady dragon,” said the master, “if only that were so, but men are foolish creatures and men are dragon foe. The solution, my fire brethren, lies within your heart, let’s make this world the way is was way back at the start. Let’s no longer live our peaceful life, cramped in our space on earth let’s spread our wings and breathe our flame – give dragon reign re-birth.” At this point in his speech, the dragons gave a cheer, and one of the old-school flamesters, was seen to wipe a tear. “Oh days of old,” said ancient one, “young virgins tied to rocks, such happy days they were back then - I almost had forgot the thrill of chase, and fury, the thrill of flames and fights, the taste of innocent maidens and long battles with brave Knights.” The youngest dragon looked at him, his eyes were open wide, “Did you really feast on men back then? The story book never lied!” The elder dragon laughed, and nodded his wrinkled head, “Oh yes my child, in days of old us dragons were all well fed!” The dragon master snorted, his audience to regain, “Never mind the reminiscing it will all be true again. Tonight my scaly brothers, we take the future in our hands we will soar up in the air, and spread our terror through the lands. Let neither man nor beast come near us, for fear of dragon’s breath, for any that try to stop us will be met with roasted death.” The dragons cheered the dragons clapped, the dragons stomped their feet, “My friends,” said dragon master “we’ll bring fear to all we meet, and when the battle has been won, and us dragons rule the land we will build a new community - free from the scourge of man.” All through the night the dragon clan plotted, planned and schemed, the dragon folk were coming no hope for man it seemed. It was agreed to start attacking, just as the sun would rise - it was all part of the plot you see, to take man by surprise. How good it would feel for the dragons to leave this tiny place, where they had hid for many years avoiding the human race. But as the dawn grew near, and the sun rose in the sky, the dragons found that over the years they had forgotten how to fly. Though they flapped their tiny wings, not one could leave the ground and the bright new morning air was rent with straining sounds. As noontime came the master cried, “Stop, my friends no more! It is obvious to each one of you we cannot leave the floor. So here we are and here we’ll stay, though grounded we are strong and for as long as there are tongues to talk, Our legend will live on.” Written October 31st, 2001 © on Oct 31 2001 12:56 AM PST   0 • 10