Entombed in wax yet breathing

Its identity is a mystery to all

A new species to this planet

Unique in appearance and behavior

What fate must have befallen

The specimen frozen in time

Unable to break free

Yet sentenced to eternal life.

On the other side of the wall a ball

Arches towards its target

Wrist high in the air the player poses

Holding perfect form and yet

Unaware of the company he keeps

Oblivious to the novelty

Unprepared to provide assistance or make

The discovery of a lifetime

He instead sets his sights on his goals

Intent on carving out his own destiny

The pig put on his clean gloves

Adjusted his goggles and climbed

Aboard his new motorcycle

He took to the highway he knew so well

Heading for a destination top secret

Adventure awaited, he was sure

But details were unknown

Customers clamored to get a look as he left

At this unusual patron so determined

To sanitize his accessories and get back on the road.

Hamilton chuckled as he went on his way

Further and further into the open country

He had decked out his bike as if to display

His prized possession of transport.

Rolling along for miles he smiled

Enjoying the whipping of the wind on his face

And after awhile he forgot the purpose of his ride

Lost in the beauty of the place

He realized as one should the focus

Not to be the finish line or result

But rather the scenery and feeling of the journey

That is to be enjoyed

Even if at times chaos reigns.

The angry crowd that followed with torches 

Had only harm in mind. 

How it came to be, this scene most unfortunate

Really owed to an instance of bad luck

For it got its start when the dragon 

Decided to play with some ducks. 

As other animals and kids saw the fun that they could have 

They all joined in the festivities 

And began to shout and laugh 

The weather had been dry that year

The ground was the color of rust. 

Charged up and stirred by the trampling of fee 

It filled the air with dust

The pesky particles peppered the nostrils 

Of the poor unsuspecting dragon,

Who tried and tried to resist the urge 

For he knew the impending disaster. 

Try as he might he could not ignore 

The tickle and the itch

Without a warning his body expelled the intrusive dust

Spraying the town with deadly hot flames!

“Flee we must!” his friend the dwarf

Exclaimed as the crowd grew unruly.

Afraid to fly for the dust in the sky

The dragon joined his friend on the ground 

As they attempted to beat a hasty retreat 

From the increasingly hostile crowd.

“They’re gaining, they’re gaining!”

The dwarf’s voice was straining with urgency and with fear. 

“We’re going to need a miracle to make it out of here!”

Deftly dodging debris they ditched the deranged villagers 

Until they reached a crumbling cliff

With their pursuers closing in

The decision facing them was clear 

With silent prayers to whatever deity might hear

They jumped. 

The dwarf clung to the dragon’s hide

The latter flying mostly blind through the clouds 

They fell for a pit, their stomachs flipping and flopping 

Before the dragon found his wings and steered them 

Away from the ground. 

Without a clue as to where they were headed 

They only cared not to be around 

The dreaded mob and its dangers 

And were very happy to have each other 

Friends who trusted

Instead of strangers 

An important lesson they learned that day

If you’re going to run around with dragons and ducks

Be mindful of your allergies

And try not to kick up too much dust!

And much more diverse than you might expect. Otherworldly in many ways, they have numerous features. 

Hobbyists at heart when not bearing riders on quests 

Or engaging in community activities, they enjoy leisure 

Much as humans and dwarfs do. 

One scholarly example is Historius. 

Unlike many of his peers, Historius preferred the indoors. 

His humble abode was a mess

But that didn’t cause him much stress. 

He filled to the gills each room 

With books and volumes galore. 

While others adventured in the wild, he lived out

The events on the pages he read.

Each day brought a new title with a new quest

New characters to learn to love or hate 

The opportunity to escape from the world 

And be something other than a dragon. 

To some it seemed a case of delusion

A waste of time and space 

They whispered about Historius behind his back 

And some even laughed in his face. 

They didn’t understand why he crammed 

So many books into his small home

But they felt quite sure it was the reason 

Why he always lived alone. 

To his credit, Historius ignored the criticism.  

He knew how to find the joy in life. 

He didn’t fear not fitting in

Or being without husband or wife. 

If ever he did feel discouraged 

Or needed answers or advice,

The solution always looked 

To be inside of one of his books,

And that, he thought, felt rather nice. 

His collection grew by the hour it seemed 

Although he would say that’s a stretch. 

But if there was a title that appeared even in his dreams,

The next day he would go try to fetch it.   

Alone he sat reading, propped on piles of clutter 

While his mind traveled miles 

Through worlds real and imagined. 

Historius played no favorites among his collection 

The task of choosing just one overwhelmed him. 

He loved all of his books equally as children 

Each one had merited its own selection. 

Historius had only one worry

When not deeply engrossed in a tale 

That reading and books would fall into obscurity 

That people and dragons just wouldn’t care

But whenever his mind stumbled 

Or his emotions got jumbled 

He knew with a book he could escape anywhere.

If you ask the other elves 

They dare not speak my name lest bad luck befall them. 

My mark is my doom

Ironic for a symbol of survival to instill fear

But the others saw only the mark of darkness 

The horrific danger of the past. 

To them, I am Death. 

I have but one friend in this world,

A winged warrior who circles above my head

Though he be dragon, he cares about me

When others would rather see me dead. 

My mark means nothing to him 

No judgement will he send my way. 

Dragons have always been loyal 

It’s their way of life. 

At first he feared me

My scar haunted his kind as well 

But soon I convinced him to trust me 

He never leaves my side now 

As unwelcome as I am 

He would defend my honor 

Even against my own kind. 

Together we are a pair

Of sights for sore eyes

And yet together we are a team whose destiny

Cannot be denied.

He hadn’t left his home in years and longed for excitement. 

In his mind he saw a young dragon full of zest

Doing his best to survive in a dangerous world. 

Stories fed his imagination and kept the young persona alive.

For all the stories of the world outside his door,

Chua preferred to hear of the world he experienced.

“Tell me again of the great dragon victory over the ogres,” he requested. 

Nimh obliged with a smile though he knew the elder had seen

The battle with his own eyes all those years ago. 

“It was a fierce battle,” he said dramatically, setting the scene. 

Dragons’ numbers were small but their will was strong. 

Ferocious, ugly ogres surrounded them. 

The future of dragonkind appeared bleak 

One by one the winged warriors fell dead

Or struggled, wounded, back to the lines. 

Hope faded as the losses mounted. 

The ogres laughed as they pillaged  

Took delight in delivering death

Degraded the monuments of dragon culture 

And taunted the few prisoners they spared. 

Chua shivered from the cold, gripping his blanket. 

“But we beat those beasts!” he said as his memory returned. 

“Yes, you did, you remember!” Nimh said.

A wizened general led his army in a surprise attack 

Driving the ogres out and saving the town. 

General Chua achieved heroic status 

Hailed as a savior then, he now fought a different war 

Though this one he was destined to lose,

Chua found solace in one truth

Old age and death can never erase a hero’s legacy.

A prize worth its weight in gold to the right person 

The day awoke with a symphony of light and sound 

But it was already too late

Sitting with his thoughts, his lure beneath the water 

The fisherman pursued a legend with patience. 

His quest for glory began in his youth 

And though now long in the tooth he 

continued with his own pursuit of the revered catch

Overhead a curious onlooker circled the sky

Patrolling and watching as the man awaited his mythical adversary

It knew these waters well

Brimming with confidence the man hummed quietly 

Careful not to disturb what lurked beneath the ripples 

With a gust of the wind the dragon swooped 

Descending to drag its claws through the wate 

Before returning skyward with its meal.

Enlightened the man watched as the dragon

Dove again to the water for fish yet lingered.

Without warning the beast flew to the shore

Trout rained at the man’s feet.

“Thank you!” the man called to the one above

Again he cast his net into the water 

Still hoping to snag the elusive prize 

Gray shimmered in the distance 

An eerie presence that moved through the water 

With the agility of a serpent.

Frozen in confusion the man saw the dragon speeding at him

Mere feet from the surface 

Below the beast a school of fish sped toward shore 

One by one they split off until one remained.

Man and fish locked eyes 

The fisherman had found the legend.

Several feet of scales and fins stretched behind its head 

Majestic and powerful, a creature like no other 

Patiently the dragon watched as the scene unfolded 

Man and fish

Fish and man 

Observing each other with great wonder 

Man forgot for a moment his visit’s purpose 

Until a great pull nearly took him under.

Reflex took over as his mind filled with shock

The mighty myth had given him his shot!

He pulled and he pulled 

Fighting to bring the fish home 

The dragon watching with eyes peeled 

Fighting to bring the fish home 

Alas his net proved not up to the task 

Or perhaps the great fish tried to win the game at last 

Ending its flirtation with obedience. 

The man returned home empty handed 

But not without greater respect for the fish

And gratitude for his friend in the sky. 

Careful movement is required to keep harmony

Nature holds its breath when humans appear

The most powerful and respected creatures

Bear the most responsibility for preservation

Yet also bear responsibility for destruction.

Even among each other we often find conflict

Tiptoeing a fine line is an exercise

Holding the tongue and showing respect

Seems even more difficult

Who has the secret to peace and prosperity?

Sweet fragrance floats freely 

Like the gentle heatwave from a distant fire 

A suggestion of warmth that invites calm

Relaxation takes over 

Closed eyes further trap the sensations 

Freezing time and stretching an instant into an eternity 

The scent changes you from the inside 

Working its magic, untying knots

Linking your mind to an object or a place 

Maybe even a person you know 

Something that brings a smile to your face 

And then the exhale makes everything new again

Or moved gently like a comb

Through silken hair

To find his way out of the house

Where he knew he didn’t belong

Instead the panicked pig plowed

Through the glass storm door

Ruining the expensive entrance

And giving Grandma a birthday

To remember

This is the opportunity of a lifetime!

Set on an outcrop atop a mountain

The timeless property is primed for adventure.

I can vouch for the neighborhood as most

Inhabitants are dragons like myself.

A deep moat offers protection from invaders

As well as a cooling dip if you’re a wader

And the view from the towers is to die for!

But not to worry, all of the skeletons on the property

Passed naturally with absolutely no dragons involved

As I have mentioned the dragons are your friends

We love to mingle, and the fun never ends!

I hear barbecues are a frequent occurrence here too

So you should feel right at home should you love to grill

The castle has so many great options and frills

We would need centuries to cover it all

No electricity, so that lowers your bills

But so much natural light you won’t miss the amenities

There is good hiking and climbing nearby

So I really recommend you give this place a try

Good credit preferred, but if not I won’t scream

This could still be the place to have some fun dreams!

Going about life one day at a time

Serves as a reminder that slow is okay

Small bites consume the meal as well

As large chunks taken quickly

Living can be overwhelming

At times when it is taken in large doses

Savor the small servings of joy

Harvesting grain can take a lot out of a person, so when Bradrak Grumblebeard started having visions of things that couldn’t be real, he dropped his tools and started to make his way back to the house.

He moved slowly at first, but as a dark shadow overtook him and he heard the unmistakable sound of heavy wings flapping, he started to run.

A loud shriek erupted from the sky, sending Bradrak sprawling to the ground. Looking up he couldn’t believe his eyes. A dragon swooped low, mere feet from his head, before ascending once again into the heavens.

As he watched the mythical beast grow smaller and smaller in the sky, he knew no one would believe him. Nevertheless, he headed into town, if for no other reason than to distance himself from the frightening experience.

“You’ve been out in the sun too long, Bradrak,” his neighbor Fyodor said. “There hasn’t been a dragon sighting around these parts in centuries.”

“Come and have a drink,” Hrothgar the bartender said. “Clearly you need it, or else you’ve had too much already.”

Bradrak was adamant about what he had witnessed. He had seen a real dragon, he was sure of it.

“You mock me, but I know what I saw, and it could come back at any time,” he said defiantly.

The others laughed and returned to their business, sure that Bradrak was talking nonsense. Dragons were fodder for entertaining tales but nothing more.

The next night, the same characters sat around the bar, still laughing about the so-called dragon sighting.

Outside a couple of dogs began to bark in an unusual tone. Curious, the men made their way outside, where they encountered a terrifying sight. The sky lit up bright as day with the energy of fireballs streaking through the atmosphere. They landed far outside the town, setting hillsides ablaze. Looking into the sky the men saw a scaly dragon with a long, pointed tail and broad wings. Smoke poured from its mouth and nose as it moved majestically through the air.

The proof of Bradrak’s sighting had arrived. He was not a drunken storyteller after all. Frightened, the men rushed back into the bar, where they hid under tables waiting for the danger to pass.

“Now do you believe me?” Bradrak shouted as the others cowered.

After a short time the dragon departed, leaving the men to decipher what they had witnessed.

From that night on no one dared to discount the continued existence of the dragons. Bradrak never took his time in the fields lightly. You never know when you might have unexpected company.

The Aluthians attacked out of greed, a ruthless attempt at expansion and annexation. Unprovoked and unwarranted they launched one assault after another on D’Veen and its moon. The moon in particular took the brunt of the attack, resulting in the shattered remnants we have today. 

In its heyday the moon was an object of worship and adoration. We were in awe of its beauty. Some of the bravest young ones dreamed of exploring it someday. Its powers called for many hours of study by the most intelligent among us, but they could only learn so much from a distance. 

I can still recall everything from that terrifying day. I had returned home from flying lessons and was getting ready to play with some friends. The moon was bright in the sky. Perfectly smooth, it looked like a giant marble. 

There was such a peace in the air none of the elder dragons had any cause for concern. Our defenses were completely down. 

Just after lunchtime, there was a terrible sound as the defense alarms blared. Adults sprang into action to prepare for whatever might be coming. Young dragons fled to the safety of their homes. 

Multiple flying beasts appeared over the horizon and swiftly moved in on D’Veen, carrying warriors on their backs. 

The fighting was fierce over the course of several days. If the Aluthians assumed their victory would be quick and easy, they soon discovered how wrong they were. They had underestimated the determination and courage possessed by the desperate defenders of D’Veen. 

Back and forth the momentum swung, with heavy casualties on both sides. The shell shocked Aluthians regrouped to mount one final raid before retreating to their homeland. 

D’Veen had been defended successfully, and its dragon soldiers were heroes. But the moon had paid a steep price for survival. The sky would never be the same again. 

The first time I looked up and saw its new shattered form, I cried tears of grief. How could such a perfect symbol of beauty now look so grotesque? What kind of evil could do this? The Aluthians were known for exactly that level of evil and cruelty. 

The new moon became another symbol of our resilience. It had been forever changed, yet it still existed. None of us would ever be the same either, nor would we forget the terrible events. But we would also never forget the strength and unity we demonstrated under the most dire circumstances. 

Please take your (awesome) dog for a walk

He would ask you himself but he can’t talk.

He hears there is a parade today

Lots of kids will be there

He likes kids because they play

Games with him and pet him.

He You need exercise, so please walk the dog

P.S. Bring snacks

Sincerely,

Dogtor Smith, a Real Dogtor

Spread uniformly as far as the eye can see

A brilliant golden carpet over the planet floor

Unbroken the individuals blur into one

A dazzling illusion of color and light.

Yet for all of the glory and brightness here

Still suffering persists

One of the greatest beasts sees its wings clipped

It labors in pain, bearing the scars of fierce battle

Bravely it trudges on, unwilling to take the easy road

But knowing it may not survive.

As the dragon awaits its fate, the sun goes dark

Assuming the worst the beast braces itself

Thunder rolls, bringing with it…

Dragons?

An army has come to claim their own

Blotting out the great light as they pass

Before landing almost in unison.

No fallen comrade shall suffer alone

The dragons have a code, you know.

The gentle laying of claws upon the wounded

Allows the magic to heal

The power flows from the healthy to where it is needed

Gradually the wounded one rises

Unsteadily to its feet and meekly tests

The repaired wing

Satisfied of its recovered strength,

The dragon joins its brothers

And returns to the sky.

Under an unrelenting sun

The police detective felt his patience begin to run

Stuck on the edge of his own crime scene

Crowded out by a line of nosy neighbors

He grumbled to himself as they jostled him

“I could have been an actor!” he laments

Pushing his way through the people

He prepared for whatever sight he might find

Unsure of exactly what happened

But sure he’d solve it with his sharp mind

“Clear the way!” he yelled as smoke rose from the house

The heat made the air seem to thicken

The smoke started choking the man

When a smiling woman exited the house with a roast chicken

On a platter she held in her hands.

“One at a time, don’t you rush!”

She called to the waiting neighbors

“There’s more where this came from

No need to fuss!”

The detective scratched at his head, puzzled by this festive scene.

Surely dispatch was mistaken, for there was no crime here at all

A sudden tap on his shoulder made the detective do a double-take

For standing on the road behind him

Was his wife holding a birthday cake

“Surpri-ise!” she said in a singsong tone

As her husband’s face registered his shock

“We couldn’t let you spend your birthday alone!”

The entire crowd cheered as the man’s smile appeared

And he claimed the festive day as his own.

Boughs sag under the weight of fresh snow

Everything this world offers puzzles the dragon

So small!

On the other end of the curious gaze this world teems with activity

People rush to and fro, singing as they go

One man chops wood

A child throws a snowball

Everything here is good and happy and light

But so small!

The dragon stares in wonder at this beautiful place

He wants to belong, he thinks

With a gentle hand, he gives the world a shake.

Snowstorm!

Chaos ensues as the mini world quakes

Winds howl and snowflakes fly

Biting and stinging faces in their wake.

The dragon laughs in delight,

What fun!

While inside the small world

Gravity is undone

Down is up and up is down

People and things float around

Screams of terror fill the air

The most horrific of sounds!

The tranquility is gone, dashed

Parents and children cling to each other in fear.

The dragon sees their terrified faces

And feels…shame

He doesn’t want to scare people

He wants to understand them

Inside the world all goes quiet and still.

The storm abates, and the people return to their lives.

They are always wary of the next disruption

While unaware of the innocent gesture behind it.

The dragon returns the globe to its place,

Entertained yet suspicious that there must be something more to this little world.

Of a population’s sickness and suffering 

Of an unprecedented pandemic 

The dragon race had its strengths in its time 

Speed and agility in battle, loyal to their own 

But the one foe who attacked without rhyme or reason 

Spelled doom for dragonkind and left one dragon alone. 

Descended from a great hero, the one they called Elbert, the solitary survivor now suffered.

The grip of the Rot proved overwhelming

Death was inevitable, he knew

He’d seen what others had gone through.

The infection most cruel had run rampant,

Taking first the elderly but then spreading

Soon the entire encampment knew its wrath

And no balm, medication, or bath could do

To ease or stop the spread of the affliction.

It had taken the lives of so many dragons.

Burying their bones failed to stop it from spreading.

If a leader like Elbert proved no match,

What hope did another dragon stand of avoiding the catch?

The one known as Boryl now fought as he could

Knowing the fate that he faced

And bearing the weight of the knowledge

That with his passing the dragons would be erased.

Heroes such as Elbert, the legendary joiner

Of dragons and dwarves

Whose trust in an individual defined a relationship evolution

That lasted until the last of the dwarves had expired

Now the dragons themselves had all but joined them.

Extinction waved from the horizon, the ugliest

Neighbor of all.

Boryl strained and fought for every last breath

To keep that horror at a distance

Nearer and nearer it crept as his muscles and tissues decayed

Internal systems sent messages of panic

That pinballed around to dead ends

Fear grew in spite of Boryl’s determination

As he felt himself falling deeper into decay

With each passing moment his life was fading away

Summoning his dwindling strength he sent up some flames

As high into the air as he could

To serve as a message to The Rot

If The Rot thought he would be broken

He would not

As the fire subsided it coincided with

The final breakdown of Boryl’s life

As his cells passed the point of no return

He was forced to give up his fight.

The Rot might take life and might wipe out a group

But the history they built can never be erased.

More than a little bit scared of what came next 

The world was big and in need of some care

Signs of destruction and neglect lay everywhere. 

The task of revival seemed impossibly tall 

Even to a dragon who was not small, not at all!

He still felt the pain of the loss of his friend 

He had cared so much for Ronnie, right to the end. 

A dragon should not be alone, this he knew

So he needed to figure out something to do. 

As he gazed in reflection on the jumble of rubble,

He noticed someone or something in some trouble.

Propped against a pillar of stone 

A solitary robot sat all on its own. 

Elbert could see that it was not in good shape 

For parts of it were missing, even its head was agape. 

The heartstrings of the dragon felt heavy with grief 

But also a glimmer of hope for relief. 

He remembered getting kindness in his time of strife 

And so he believed he could bring this robot back to life. 

He got right to work with some tools he had scavenged 

To fix what he could fix and salvage what he could salvage 

Slowly but surely the robot took its form

And Elbert felt a bit less alone. 

With a last tightened screw his work was complete 

Elbert stepped back to observe his great feat.

A glimmer of light shimmered out of the eye

And the robot moved, slowly coming to life!

“Aha!” Elbert cried, more filled with shock than with pride 

A forgotten emotion warmed him from inside 

The robot rotated its head and bent its limbs 

Moving about and exploring the scene. 

“Friend?” it then asked with a staticky crackle

The word brought strong feelings to the dragon,

but he nodded and stuck out a claw of greeting. 

“My name is Elbert, and I am a dragon.”

He heard a few beeps and saw some red flashes 

Of light as the robot processed his words. 

“Greetings, Elbert dragon,” the robot replied. 

It gripped the claw awkwardly. 

“I am Automaton Droid 2.0,” it said with its eyes aglow. 

“Thank you for helping me, friend Elbert dragon,”

it continued while giving walking a go. 

With lurches and stumbles it remembered how to walk 

And with more patience, back came its full ability to talk   

Elbert and AD 2.0 clicked in no time,

Sharing stories of their pasts and going on adventures. 

The absence within Elbert proceeded to shrink

Once again he felt grateful to have a friend 

And AD 2.0 felt grateful to be rescued from a dead end.