Dragon
Snake-neck extended like an armoured lance;
Croc-toothed flame-jaws agape; spike-tongue out-thrust;
Black smoke-trails from broad nostrils streaming; barb-
Tipped, saw-fretted writhe-tail all alash; huge
As a whale: a Dragon is watching me
As closely as a tiger eyes potential prey!.
Now, with a potent surge of sudden force
The great scaled monster, on membranous wings,
Swoops down from its high cavern-den – like some
Vast fiery eagle hastily astoop,
Crook-claws flexed wide to grasp my cringing flesh –
Its bloodshot reptile-stare fixed balefully on me!.
Down through the windless air it quickly drops
On half-furled, hook-fringed, whistling wings, intent
On death. Merciless-eyed and furnace-mouthed
It comes, talons extended for the strike!.
With panic-pounding heart I wake to find
That Dragon a mere figment of my myth-fed mind!.
