A Dragon Lore Poem by Lady Pattianna Urasz

There is a pond in Swampshire land.
It’s placed for all to see.
There be flowers with colors grand
And animals run wild and free.

And on a misty morning
When all is quiet and still
Birds fail to give their warning
To the animals on near by hill.

Instead all sleep on contentedly
Thinking there be no danger.
But danger lurks in our inland sea,
And danger has not been a stranger.

There be Beasties in the water
Ever swimming in the dark.
Watch over your son and daughter.
Don’t let them go into the park.

We once had ducks and geese and swan,
And Golden Fish by the dozen.
Now nothing lives in our inland pond
Except the Beastie and it’s cousin.


Upon a log once sat turtle and frog,
An Egret or two on the grass.
Now there might be a frog buried deep in our bog,
But not in our pond, only trash.

The Egrets have flown to find a new home,
And Towns folk use the pond as a dump.
While we hear a deep groan and one lonely moan,
All we see is a hump and feel a bumpity bump.

As the Beasties explore the now desolate shore
Of an inland sea abandoned to thee.

At a town meeting it was decided
To reclaim the waters long lost.
To remove the Beasties resided
In pond waters, whatever the cost.

Several suggestions were eagerly given
And a plan was carefully laid.
First, to see in the pond what was livin’,
Volunteers were needed, unafraid.

Three were chosen from the Shire.
Pattianna was one of the three.
The situation was considered dire
And Lord Randolf was first to be…

Ready for his adventure.
Off to the wood he crept.
To water’s edge he ventured,
Peered in while Beasties slept.

Suddenly, loosing his footing
And into the water fell he,
With a splash that felt like soft pudding
As right onto the Beasties he be.

All soft and cooshy he lay there
Wondering what next he need do.
To be still, or escape if he dare
Or would HE be their next bowl of stew?

He lay quiet for all of two seconds,
Enough time to see Beasties three.
Air and sunlight above him now beckons.
He sees help right beyond yonder tree.

Climbing out of harm’s way and onto the shore
He had plenty to say. To the Village he swore…
Never again would he go near the pond
To see what’s within or with Beasties to bond.

So, my Lady P. was next to try
Now knowing three Beasties down under did lay. She crept to the edge and over did spy
The Beasties were swimming and rolling in play.

Twirling and looping and dancing in place,
Bounces and bubbles and giggles and glee,
Laughter and fun with a smile on it’s face.
Too busy playing to see Lady P.

And when they did, see her that is,
Wildly laughing Lady P. couldn’t stop,
Thinking Lord Randolf, the pride that is his,
Made himself flop, then plop, and in helping did stop.

Lady P. smiling and waving at them
Evoked curiosity from monsters for men.

Why would a human seek Beasties for play?
Or was this just a trap? Should they leave, no delay?

Reggie, the leader, the largest of all,
Raised his head from the water
And brought forth a call
That sent chills down the spines of women and men,
But Lady P. stayed for she wanted a friend.

“How could this be? ”, thought the terrible Beast.
“It’s been hundreds of years since a man-Beastie Feast.
There was once a time when man wasn’t a foe.
When they lived beside man and their friendship did grow.

Would this happen again? And not just once in their life.
Could they be friends with man? Would there only be strife?

The Lady P. beckons, her eyes look so kind.
The smile on her face helped him make up his mind.
They followed her out of the inland sea.
She introduced Beasties to man tenderly.

A covenant was made that very day.
The day the Beasties were seen at their play.
The day the Town would clean up the pond
And to the monsters call respond.

The day the Ducks return to swim
And Geese and Swan to feed their kin.

Turtles, Frogs, and fishes too,
Returned to Swampshire Pond anew.

To swim, play, feed, and be alive
To raise their young ones to survive.
The danger gone. The treaty made.
The Beasties live without their slave.

For man is free, as is his will,
Free to live, not free to kill.
The Beasties 3,4, and more,
these are Beasties from a time of yore.
Reggie be a hundred score!
The oldest of the Eldest Dragons of the Lore!

Patricia Urasz copyright 2003


written while camping at Killens State Pond, Delaware, while gazing out into the almost deserted forest, listening to the woods tell their tale.