.16 Dragon Poem by Daniel Cobb

DRAGON:
'VIRGIN SACRIFICE'
The dragon had a diet of young virgins to eat;
It was an acquired taste - a tempting treat.
Would he savor them slowly? Swallow them on the spot? 3
Did virgins taste better than those who were not?
The traditional tribute was wrought in this way;
So cruel it seemed, yet a small price to pay.
He would always return for each new sacrifice;
But on this day, they could not pay the price.

Only the most innocent and fair,
With perfume, makeup, and flowers in hair.
This was the way, though there were tears,
It had been done for thousands for years.
He had good taste in girls for sure;
The young maidens were pretty and pure.
They were chosen carefully;
They weren't taken thoughtlessly.

The girl was scared, as she should be,
And refused to give up easily.
She shook her head in denial;
For it was time to face her trial.
At first, she fought - they threw her down,
And she was trapped there in that town.
So there she was, bound to the ground,
Other people standing around.

It was worse than death could ever be;
The more she struggled, the worse it would be.
Tears came to her frightened eyes,
Knowing she was about to die.
Death would devour her,
For he had a hellish hunger.
He wanted to consume her whole,
Mind, body, and soul.

The dragon looked down at her;
She begged, but he wouldn't let her go.
Then she stopped, looking up slowly,
Seeing that his eyes were empty.
It seemed a shame to make a mess,
Getting blood all over her white dress.
The young girl kept on hesitating;
The dragon was tired of waiting.

He already had her;
However, he refused her.
He wouldn't take just any price,
Wanting a willing sacrifice.
In the end, she gave up, as it were,
And let him have his way with her.
He could have reached out to take her,
But instead, he didn't make her.


'DEATH OF A DRAGON'
It was a dark, stormy night
When she first set out on her quest,
The princess was prepared to fight;
She knew she had to pass this test.
Unaware of danger ahead,
She should have turned around instead.
She stopped and dared not make a sound,
Knowing dragons would track her down.

Her composure was calm,
But she shook on the inside;
What in the world had possessed her,
To destroy this powerful dragon's pride?
The princess pulled out her sword
From a shimmering sheath;
She pointed it at his nose,
And waved it underneath.

The dragon lay deep in his dark lair; 0
The smoke of his breath filled the air.
His tail was thicker than a tree;
Wings on his back folded easily.
Far mightier than she,
He was ten times taller easily.
Bravely she stood, staring him down,
Knowing he couldn't be set free.

The dragon thought for a moment,
And he looked her right in the eye;
Then he gave an impatient snort,
Because he didn't plan to die.
Then she shoved her sword in his chest
And put his evil to rest;
The sword of light pierced inside
As the last dragon of hell died.


'DRAGON WARRIOR'
We formed into circles, standing back-to-back
As the cunning creatures closed around to attack.
Then I heard my friend fall and meet his death,
Reduced to ashes, burned by but a breath.
As the tears of heroes stained the soil,
My royal blood began to boil.
With a fierce shout, I charged forth then to fight;
Indeed, it was a magnificent sight.

A tail twirled around the tower;
I followed after him in that fateful hour,
Not realizing I would soon discover
The extent of his perfect power.
Fearsome foes fled before my might;
Lesser forces fled at my sight.
Nothing could stop my sword and shield
As I charged across the battlefield.

The dragon drifted down;
He'd come to challenge the crown.
I knew that this war must be won,
But the battle had only begun.
The serpent soared above my head;
Another moment and I would have been dead,
But I stayed and stood my ground instead.
While others were frightened and fled.

My swift stallion soared quickly along,
Dodging the demons that didn't belong.
The unicorn's holy horn was pure and true;
Into the dragon's heart, it went straight through.
The dragons lay dead, there in the fields
Of splintered swords and shattered shields.
Now I am but another weary, withered wall,
The only one in battle who didn't fall.


'WE ALL FALL DOWN'
So many people tried to stand
Against the darkness in the land.
On a hero they did depend,
But they have all failed in the end.
The dragons flew down upon them;
No brave warrior could withstand them.
As they knocked down every tower,
No one could defy their power.

Arrows bounce off his armored scales;
Their swords could not cut off his tail.
And one by one, the brave knights fell;
He dragged them all down back to hell.
Nothing remained - no knight could last,
But they were there, and death came fast.
They could hear the sound of their claws,
Ripping flesh with their jagged jaws.

The other men met their death,
And now he was the last one left.
Their bodies fell onto the ground;
And it left them lying around.
The battle was quickly over,
The dragons flew to the clouds for cover.
The serpents left without a sound,
And in the air, their wings did pound.

Long ago, the curse was cast;
Now it was broken at last.
The kingdom was no longer seen,
Just as if it had never been.
The Dragon King opened his jaws,
To snatch each soul, seizing control;
He held the world and crushed it in his claws;
Darkness devoured it whole.


'DESTINY OF A DRAGON'
Her heart cries out, and when she wakes,
The majestic mountains tremble - the whole world shakes.
She shouted words unheard, voice full of fright;
Leaves on the trees fell from each branch in sight.
She'd lived to see the brevity of kings gone by;
And when each cause was lost, she'd stop and cry.
She knows this peace will pass, she fears;
Her magic grows weak as daylight draws near.

Now she knew that her faith had failed
In this land of pointless pain.
Ending everything, she wept and wailed,
For her sisters had been slain.
I weep for the forgotten foe
That left you with nowhere to go.
You watch the world down below,
A dream that no one will ever know.

Then she turned to take one last look,
Hoping for a happy-ending, like in a storybook.
They cannot fathom her flight to be free;
It's all that's left of fantasy.
Scales glowing with starlight, she soared right past the sun,
Trying to make it home before the day was done.
Black wings covered with a cloak by the starry sky,
Hidden in the shadows of space as she flies by.

Once there was a world very long ago,
Where freedom was found wherever you may go.
Hope filled her heart, while the wind filled her wings;
No one can hear the forgotten song that she sings.
Her enchanting eyes tell a story unlike any ever heard;
She smiles so softly, without whispering a word.
Before spreading her wings to fly, forever to be free,
I'll cry out one more time, for I know she is me.


'BEWARE OF THE BEAST'
Serpents in the sky,
Like shadows flying by;
Stealth and speed their only way,
Silently they slip away.
Slumbering for ages untold,
Dragons lie atop piles of gold.
For many years, they will wait
Just to find the perfect mate.

Lost legends told the tale of a treasure
More marvelous than mortals could measure.
Guarding it was a dragon whose only pleasure
Was to fill up the hearts of men with fear.
Curiosity gets the best of you;
Climb up the cliffs for a better view.
You stand there in silence before the cave;
Suddenly you don't feel so brave.

You only go in when he is asleep;
Across the entrance you carefully creep.
You're troubled by thoughts of torment;
For the sleeping serpent might wake up at any moment.
Now you know you will have to defeat
The dragon for your quest to be complete.
The serpent is waking - you feel it in your feet;
There's a new sense of terror in every heartbeat.

But you don't have to be a man,
So turn back now while you still can.
Then suddenly you realize
The evil beast opened its eyes.
The dragon rises with a roar,
Sending you fleeing in terror!
Ascending from the ashes,
His terrible tail thrashes!


'SERPENT SLAYER'
I slowly wandered through the cave,
While forcing myself to be brave.
There were many dead bodies I could see; 0
Next the monster would be coming after me!
I entered the chamber;
The dragon was the only danger.
It raised its huge horned head;
Its evil eyes were glowing red.

Moments later, my move was made;
The beast fell back at the blow of my blade.
The battle was won - the foe I fought;
Or so I thought, but he was not.
The dragon just wouldn't be defeated; 0
I'm not a hero! I thought, then retreated.
I turned to run, but my feet stayed in place; 0
A look of fear appeared on my face.

Just when I figured my moments were few,0
A knight in shining armor came to my rescue.
With his sword by his side, and steed so true,0
This was something that only he could do.0
The warrior had come here alone to fight,0
He was a brave, courageous knight;
And if he played his cards just right,
The serpent would be slain that very night.

The battle was to the death;
I watched in horror and held my breath.
The dragon fell at his feet;
Another monster that had been beat.
Then the knight turned, his helmet was removed; 0
But when I saw his face, I was confused.0
Instead of the knight, I saw me;
I slayed the dragon and set myself free.


'MAIDEN SACRIFICE'
No one had the power to defy him;
It seemed like nothing could satisfy him.
The others did whatever he insisted;
He had a will that no one resisted.
Silently soaring toward them in flight,
Out into the open, he swept into sight.
His eyes were red with rage, sharp claws spread wide;
He landed, then folded his black wings to the side.

This serpent was gigantic, like none ever seen;
He came to the place where his prey should've been.
Anger rose within him. 'Who dares play such a game? '
His breath burst forth in a blast of hot flame.
One man stood out and noticed his torment,
As the beast lamented, regarding him with amusement.
Though he was small, he held true to his stare;
The monster gave a growl then took to the air.

The dragon doubled back the way he came,
And thrust out his tail with the intention to maim.
The blow struck the speaker, threw him hard to the floor;
His body lay broken, life lasting no more.
Once the streets were empty by the day's dawn,
Shutters were fastened and all the bolts drawn.
Now the town thrived - people no longer wronged;
For the beast had returned to the place he belonged.


'DRAGON'S LAIR'
The princess waits patiently, in the dragon's lair;
My maiden, so fair, is trapped inside there.
The dragon frightens her with flames;
He keeps her prisoner, locked up in chains.

The beautiful princess remains a mystery;
Crying bitter tears, she seeks to be set free.
As she cries out, her heart longs for her knight;
She sits there alone, where there's no day or night.

The deadly dragon guards her as it must;
Over time, the princess has lost all of her trust.
She bit the bait - sweet taste of fruit stained dark with sin;
For a while, her flesh flourished, but something died within.

The knight rides on his steed to save her there;
The princess with the gentle heart and the long hair.2
The time will come - her knight will find the way; 0
He'll slay the serpent and turn her night into day.


'SLEEPING SERPENT'
Stories speak of a dragon that once ruled the land;
Countless other realms were his alone to command.
Laying waste to worlds, leaving only destruction in his path,
Death follows after him, and now they’ll feel his wrath.

From age of old, it had been told, a serpent lay in sleep;
In the light of the moon, toward the town he would creep.
Sometime soon, he would take once more to the skies;
From slumber, the serpent would wake and rise.

Like a nightmare coming to life, the dragon wakes up;
Slowly opening his eyes, he lifts his huge head up.
Wondering what happened, the serpent shifts his stare;
His tail began twitching - there was magic in the air.

As the cave shuddered, rocks began to fall;
The knights stepped back at the horror of it all.
Then dragons darkened the skies with their screams,
With deceptions so deadly, discovered only in dreams.


'THE LEGEND I REVEAL'
Mystical, magical, legendary story,
The creature captivates you in all its glory.
As old as forever, traveling back in time,
This tale is told in rhythm and rhyme.

Woven within it, a language unheard,
Symbols and scriptures from some ancient word.
Passed down the ages, proclaimed to be true,
This is the tale I bring unto you.

A thousand years past and the tale still is told,
Generations gone - from young to old.
From father to son, it traveled through time,
Along with this riddle here written in rhyme.

The case is closed - the creature is caged;
It remains a memory, perceived only by page.
Now no one will ever know
What they heard or what occurred so very long ago.


'ENCHANTING EVENING'
The sea glows with the sun's last light;
Shifting shadows wake with the near approaching night.
The sky fills with a warm wind that gently blows;
The creature soars past the land far below.

Evening falls on this enchanted land of magic and fantasy,
Blazing with a fire lit by golden rays of eternity.
Gliding past glittering galaxies blazing brightly from afar,
Sparkling sapphires scatter in the sky like stars.

The serpent's eyes glow in the pale moonlight;
He looked out across the land below that night.
The serpent's scales shine, reflecting rainbows;
He lay in his dark lair, hidden in the shadows.

The serpent swoops down toward the setting sun,
Racing with the wind - another battle he'd won.
Gently gliding gracefully as he soars through space,
He disappears into the darkness without a trace.


'SHADOW-SWEPT STARS'
The stars in space silently swirl
Wherever the wonders of wickedness whirl.
Two twin worlds ascended - one waxing, one waning;
The sky was soft like a watercolor painting.

Shimmering like a star surrounded by a shroud,
Thunder rumbled in a distant and darkened cloud.
Ashes blow away - wind whirls in the plains;
The land holds its breath in birth pains.

Silent and still in that instant,
Not a soul stirred for one magic moment.
The wind and waves suddenly stopped - not by their will,
Covering creation with a cruel chill.

Above peaceful valleys dotted with daffodils,
A cool breeze carried the fresh scent of thrills.
A shadow slowly spread over the surface of the sea,
Enveloping Earth in an eclipsed eternity.


'GALACTIC GUARDIAN'
The river of time flows through the universe;
It seems creation has fallen under a curse.
He guards the galaxy from those who would take it in vain;
From every evil foe, he defends it with great disdain.

The creature climbs through the clouds;
He roars in defiance, now alert and aroused.
The air echoes with trembling thunder;
Spears of light rend night's dark veil asunder.

The deadly dragon dances in defiance
As nature brings forth a vortex of violence.
He revels in the strength of the storm;
Light branches out across the sky, revealing his fierce form.

He roars in reply as the wind cries;
Without looking back, he soars into the sky.
Once more, the world grows peaceful and quiet;
The sun comes out - the land is bright with light.


'EYE OF THE DRAGON'
They’re wicked, yet wise;
You can tell by looking into their eyes.0
If a dragon looks directly at you,
You had better be careful what you do.

He knows the secrets hidden in your heart; 0
If your words are true, then he won't tear you apart.
If your words are false with lies in your eyes,0
They will only bring you to your demise.

The dragon’s eyes can see into your mind; 0
He knows your desires and the dreams he will find.
He'll play with your passion and toy with your thought;
You'll never defeat him - no matter how well you fought.

If you run away with all your might,
He will follow you through the dark night.
You had better hope that he has eaten; 0
He'll fight to the death until you're beaten.


'DREAM DEFENDER'
The dragon of dreams often sleeps
To collect knowledge, which she keeps
As gemstones glittering brighter than gold,
A wealth of wonders unknown and untold.

Though wisdom’s power isn’t often sought,
She spends all her time guarding the treasure of thought.
She does not care for jewels, or other worthless things;
All she wants is wisdom and the power that it brings.

In every event, she sees possibility;
All that once was, now is, and what may yet soon be.
She knows the future of what tomorrow brings;
She scatters the stars with her outspread wings.

With a glance, she can weaken the strongest of minds,
Her piercing gaze penetrates souls of all kinds.
If you are brave, then you may pass her test;
If your faith fails, you will die like the rest.


'THE ORACLES OF OLD'
Dragons lived in the days of old,
When the whole world was dark and cold.
Back then the skies were filled with a thousand-fold;
That's the tale I've been told.

The dragon is a dark creature from hell; 0
Sending forth his flames, from heaven he fell.
The legend of the beast is spoken of the same,
The dragon of darkness that has no name.

They tried to forget God gave them birth;
They came down from heaven to the earth.0
They tried to rule him and take over his power,2
But the darkness will be destroyed in the final hour.4

The dragon is a symbol - a beast of great power;
With one sweep of his wings, he makes meteors shower.
I'm a serpent of the shadows - I'm a dragon born of flame;
I'm a legend of the lightning - there is darkness in my name.


'DRAGONS IN THE DARKNESS'
The serpent slithers silently,
Seducing souls with witch-craftry.
The dragon will devour all dreams,
Swallowing up all of the stars, it seems.

At sunset they rise up and take flight,
Flying through the dark forest late at night.
The serpents will soar through the starlit skies,0
Searching for a kill with glowing red eyes.0

The dragons of darkness hide from the light,
For they must never stay in mortal sight.
Shadows can't stand sunlight - it shines too bright;
The sunset brings an even sweeter darkness to the night.

Descending like a dragon, darkness is drifting down;
Spreading its midnight wings, shadows cover the town.
Pitch-black, deadly darkness, as far as the eye can see,
Gazing from the shadows, staring into my soul, watching me.


'SERPENTS IN THE SHADOWS'
Waiting to catch you with its cruel claws,
The dragon reveals bloodstained, jagged jaws.
The monster opens its mouth wide;
There's no place you can hide.

The creature is coming - you'll taste its wrath; 0
Feel his breath on your neck, but don't look back.0
The further you travel down the dark path,0
You lose the light you need to find your way back.

How did you ever get into this mess,
Lost in loneliness, despair, and distress?
Dragons drag you down into the darkness;
Trapped in hell, you can't help feeling hopeless.

There was a kingdom, once peaceful and prosperous,
Until the eggs of a deadly dragon hatched;
They ate the brave knights who were dispatched
To fight them off, but the mortals made no match.


'WATER DRAGON'
An icy cold blast of bitter wind blows
Near a summit once showered with soft snow.
Then raindrops fall like frozen shards in shrouds
From thick, turbulent thunderclouds.

Snowflakes fall softly and slowly stroke
Covering the whole world with a winter cloak.
Flowers fade fast when winter does its thing;
Only some ever survive to see the spring.

In a frozen land, where none can survive,
Stands a great beast - the only thing alive.
His breath is a blizzard, sharp as a sword,
Slicing through the air as arrows in accord.

Cold claws of ice grasp at your soul;
Winter winds will swallow you whole.
Watch where the thoughts of your mind dwell;
This ice dragon will make your life a living hell.


'AIR DRAGON'
Soaring without a sound,
Never touching the ground,
The air is thin - he starts to spin,
But before he hits the ground, he pulls up again.

Up in the air you see it fly;
Its great wings spread across the sky.
Drifting through the clouds with ease,
It glides gently in the breeze.

The water reflects his image as he soars;
From the mountaintop, he gives a mighty roar.
He flies high in the air over streams, rocks, and trees,
For he's the protector of land, sky, and sea.

With its wings tucked in by its side,
Ascending into the air, it takes great pride.
It sighs with content - it will always be
A magical creature - wild and free.


'JOURNEY BACK WITH ME'
Journey back with me into the dark days of old; 2
Towering castles were cruel and cold.
This was a time when brave knights fought,
When God, gold, and glory were sought.

I'm a young man with imagination; 0
These tales are my own creation.
Now I will walk with knights and kings;
I can hear the clash of sword swings.

Watch now and let the plot unfold
With secrets that remain untold
Of brave heroes, noble and bold,
And villains with hearts dark and cold.

This false king has no right to rule;
His reign of terror is so cruel.
None has the power to resist
The terror of his iron fist.


'NIGHT FLIGHT'
Dragons open their jagged jaws;
They raise their sharp set of cruel claws.
Silently they take flight, staying out of sight,
Storming the castle in the night.

As you stare into glaring eyes,
Run in terror from their lies!
They whisper words into your ear;
You realize it's your greatest fear!
They promise to grant wishes too,
And make your dreams come true!
They lock you in a cage, laughing with fiery rage;
They've set the stage - now you must turn the page!

Everything is at peace once more;
There's no more fighting or war,
But secretly they rage and roar,
Until the kingdom falls asleep again.


'DEVIL'S PET'
The dragon was the devil's pet,
And straight to work he had been set.
He's being led through the gates of Hell,
Into the darkness, where demons dwell.

His hope is gone - his head will hang;
For him none of the angels sang.
Don't cry for him - don't shed a tear,
For he deserves to be here.

Then came the day freedom was found,
When his chains fell down to the ground.
They were broken by a sudden force;
A light came from a distant source.

He rose high on outspread wings,
Out of the cavern's crystal rings.
The devil cried with outraged might;
An angel had given him flight.


'WRATH OF THE DRAGON'
The dragon is a mighty monster,
Taking territory in the land.
No mortal can comprehend
The chaos under his command.

His claws are cold - his will is strong;
Their teeth are sharp - their tails are long.
His heart is dark - no mercy can belong;
All shall suffer for their wrong.

The long talons dig deep within,
Slashing through even the thickest skin.
Living are taken with the dead;
Upon their flesh, the dragon fed.

Brave knights fall to their knees;
The serpent slaughters them with ease.
Bloody prints left behind his heels;
No one knows how it feels.


'THE DRAGON OF DEATH'
Full of empty treasure,
Pain's his only pleasure.
Life is what he wants to take;
Emptiness is all he can make.

He takes joy in men's tears;
His peace is found in fears.
Chaos is what he celebrates;
Love is the only thing that he hates.

Born of a cursed breed,
Upon others' lives, he shall feed.
Of everything, he has a need,
For there is no end to his greed.

In each of them, it is the same;
Many lost worlds knew his name.
No one knows just where he came from,
Rising from the ashes of a fallen kingdom.


'THE DRAGON KING'
Scales of steel - claws so cold,
Emerald eyes that gleam like gold,
Brimstone born of a fiery breath,
Immortal creature, immune to death.

This is the lair of lust and lies,
Where each light fails and each dream dies.
Flames rise through the morning mist,
Kindled by the sun's first kiss.

Virtue is blocked from your view;
Even the truth cannot get through.
No purity can pierce your pride;
Sunlight can’t break inside.

Let your roar ring;
Prove that you exist.
You could be crowned king,
And nobody could resist.


'DRAGONS FEAST ON PRINCESSES'
This is the dragon's desire;
They'll burn forever in this fire.
His blood is black with lust and lies;
He cannot hear his victim's cries.

Dragons descend at night;
The fate of the kingdom is at stake.
Defeat the darkness with your light,
No matter how long it takes.

Biting with powerful jaws,
Slashing with sharp claws,
Casting down mighty foes,
He delivers deadly blows.

Blasting with fiery breath,
Bringing his victims death,
His eyes gleam bright
In the dark night.


'EVIL EYES'
You saw something that made you scream;
A monster from your darkest dream.
Seeking souls that stray, hunting for easy prey,
Taking another life away.

Moonlight falls on meadows;
A creature in the darkness calls.
You feel something watching you in the shadows;
It sees you, but you can't see it.

Through the eyes of your soul, you stare,
Seeing something that is not there.
Your mind's playing tricks on you;
It can tell if your heart is true.

Black dragons will swallow you whole,
Devour your heart - steal your soul.
Dragons with black wings
Are very evil things.


'LATE IN THE NIGHT'
Only he's left alive,
The last to survive.
From the present to the past,
This dragon is the last.

Forever it will be
A creature of mystery.
The truth remains unseen,
Like it's never been.

The evil creature
Appears only at night;
It stays out of sight,
Until twilight.

No rogue can rival
The might of its wrath.
Pray to the Lord
That you don't cross its path.