A poem about a dragon, a boy, and how not eating visiting adolescents can actually make a dragon’s life easier… also, real heroes don’t steal dragon treasure.

Enjoy!

The Dragon And The Boy

The dragon sleeps upon his hoard
Beneath a mountain old.
While every town breeds heroes who
Would seize the dragon’s gold.

So every year in summertime
Some fool comes out to try.
They come for glory or for gold
But all come but to die.

A boy lives in a nearby town
In poverty and woe.
He knows to save his people he
Must to the mountain go.

He seeks no glory and no fame
It’s not a path he’d choose.
But famine stalks the ones he loves
He’s nothing left to lose.

He is quite young still just a lad
But fear, he knows it not.
He’s seen such horrors innocence
Is something long forgot.

He travels on through day and night
At last he nears his goal.
There high upon the mountainside
An ancient, ebon hole.

As he climbs toward the lair
He takes a look around.
He sees that bones, half melted blades
Lie scattered on the ground.

The dragon stirs and lumbers out
From his bejeweled lair.
For he has sensed the boys approach
Up steep and final stair.

The boy has reached the place he sought
Prepares to face his fate.
He has not come to slay the beast
No lust for gold to sate.

The dragon steps into the sun
And stares down at the child.
He is intrigued and when he speaks
He tries to sound more mild.

“What brings you to my door young one?
Speak true or you shall die.”
“Oh dragon great I bring a gift.”
Is his shocking reply.

The child then extends his hand
And there for all to see.
A simple copper coin is what
His offering would be.

“In my town all are starving sir.
This coin our only one.
I do not seek your pity for
I know that you have none.

Just take the coin, it is not much
Please add it to your horde.
If years from now you look at it
Remember us my lord.”

The dragon thinks then he replies,
“I’ll honor your request.
But I would ask a boon as well.
I know you’ll do your best.

Please wait right here, I’ll be right back
There’s something I must get.”
He goes inside, brings back a chest
Which on a rock he set.

“Inside is all the coin you need
To make your small town great.
And all I ask is that you spread
The tale of your fate.”

The boy is so amazed that he
Gapes up at him in awe.
Sees finally the ancient scars
Some wounds still fresh and raw.

He weeps to see this ancient beast
Has suffered so much pain.
He vows to do his best to see
It never will again.

He takes the chest and journeys back
And saves his town so dear.
They aid the other towns around
Save them from doom so clear.

A boy lived in a nearby town
Has now become a man.
He’s keeps his oath and tells his tale
To everyone he can.

Those who were saved form Dragonguards
They ring the mountains round.
No weapons are allowed within
For that is dragon ground.

The dragon sleeps upon his hoard
Beneath the sun so bold.
While nearby towns breed heroes who
Still guard the dragon’s gold.

Cheers, Winston