Dragon lonesome winged his way
‘cross empty mountain, plain, and bay
In search of rare and hidden mate
strove he against a forlorn fate
Misunderstood, great wyrm of sky
Had long outflown the battle cries
Of orc and elf and dwarf and man
(Seek they to slay him if they can)
They want his death for fame and treasure
For wealth and glory beyond measure
Knew they not this dragon’s hoard
Could not be won by bow nor sword
The dragon’s wealth was long since spent
On frivolous accoutrements
Items now misplaced and lost
Yet seeking serpent felt not the cost
What good is that which isn’t shared
came epiphany in steaming lair
so from dark cave did dragon burst
with fire and smoke to slake a thirst
Through wind and rain his wings were drenched
yet awakened fire was not quenched
o’er cathedral cloud the dragon marched
his flaming heart but dry and parched
dreamed he of scales of deepest green
and sharpened claws with glossy sheen
a dragonness, the queen of beasts
So hastened he into the east
The rising sun, horizons burning
In dragon’s eye reflected yearning
so long he sought but did not find
a single member of his kind
At last he landed, tired and cold
flame inside drawn weak and low
upon a field with thoughts despairing
his wings were sore, his journey—wearing
Asleep fell he, upon the hill
and dreamed sweet dreams of lovers’ thrills
whence came then soft voice on air
wakened he, found maiden fair
A brave young girl of seventeen
had spied the wyrm upon the green
of dragon’s magic much was said
sought she to dodge a greater dread—
Than death by tearing maw and teeth
Like sickles threshing fields of wheat
Brought she a gift of food in wagon
Took her chance and woke the dragon
Serpent grateful fast devoured
food and wood and dirt and flower
In one great bite the gift was gulped
Along with some of the hilltop
Folly thought the maiden then
of her errand and its end
But dragon curious left her alone
and thus he spoke, deep baritone
“Why hast thou shook me from my slumber?
your years appear but few in number
dost thou seek an early death
your body charred by flaming breath?”
“O! great wyrm,” she then beseeched
Her voice aquiver, fair face now bleached
“By bird and beast and tree and fish,
Invoke your magic, and grant my wish!”
“Betrothed am I to vulgar prince
well known is he, in this province
for violent proclivities
and vile infidelities”
“Family mine will make a fortune
a share of which I’ll see no portion
I beg of thee to intervene
ere I become forsaken queen”
Dragon’s heart thus was stirred
by maiden’s quick and earnest words
saw he did in her behest
an echo of his own great quest
said he, “Alas for your entreaty!
Thou hast confused me with a genie
magic mine makes conflagrations
false be other allegations
From maiden came despairing wail
thought her then the quest had failed
for surely was the prince a liar
but should she have him set on fire?
“Thy plight I cannot solve with magic
though your tale be truly tragic.
perhaps there is another course:
Fly with me to distant shores”
At this the maiden gave a start
and hope did blossom in her heart
the dragon offered swift egress
with wanderlust was she possessed
A fair breeze blew upon her face
and through she trembled in his gaze
steady was her nod of head
up she climbed twixt wings outspread
The dragon’s quest become her own
long they searched from town to town
Thus enduring bond was formed
strong it stayed through gale and storm
Found they much upon their journey
love and hate and fear and glory
fighting orcs and causing trouble
(They once reduced a fort to rubble)
And all the while they asked and looked
for any sign that could be took
for evidence of dragon dame
but not a whisper ever came
Time flew by beneath proud wings
came they to have respect of kings
but dragon’s deepest, longest yearning
was not met through all their searching
Until one night in mountain cave
another realization came
as maiden slept against his breast
upon his leg her soft caress
Companionship his heart had lacked
had been right there upon his back
continued search of long duration
never more in desolation
Years had passed whence the pair
far out to sea in cold night air
were forced to fly into the clouds
and thunder rumbled all around
Blind and cold and wet and tired
the father of all storms conspired
to throw them down into the waves
bodies failed but hearts were brave
The ocean rose as if in greeting
prepared were they for final meeting
A goddess kind then saw their plight
and knew the pair had lost the fight
She of fate and bonds and thread
Wanted not to see their end
Plucked them she from sodden doom
and wove them she through hallowed loom
She fixed them bright into the sky,
said, “blessed be, eternal fly
above the land you long traversed,
sail thee now the universe.”
Cast up thy gaze on clear night
behold there cloaked in warm starlight
Celestial form of faithful pair
The dragon and the maiden fair
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