"Here Be."
© Mary Beaird

Remember the stories of dragons of old,
The knights in bright armour, their challenges bold,
The sweet captive maidens, the caverns of gold.

Remember the tales of our serpentine grace,
And how we spread terror in every place.
Yet I am alone now, the last of my race.

Remember the tale of the honourable knight,
With courage to battle such beauty and might,
Who readies his weapons and calls us to fight!

Teeth and claws pitted ‘gainst sword, lance and axe.
Yet in the telling, somehow the tale lacks
Truth.  You trailed us with dogs! You slew us in packs!

With nowhere to go, so we pleaded and still
All you could think of was how best to kill
The ones come to tell you we meant you no ill.

You netted and beat them, and swore that they lied.
If you had but listened as those brave hearts died,
You may have heard whispered, "Forgive Lord, we tried".

Now my palace lies empty and dust is my bed,
And, tricked by you humans, my husband lies dead!
You ripped out his claws, stole his skin and his head.

No fire to guard him, no scales armoured gleam,
Just torn bloody feathers.  I wake from the dream.
The walls of the den echo still with his scream.

Such innocent creatures! No sorrows we’d known.
We laughed and we loved ‘though we were but half grown.
He left me no children.  I mourn him alone.

Should I choose to live as the man-swarms increase?
And what will I find when their years of power cease?
Perhaps my revenge.  Or perhaps at last peace.

Remember the lies told of dragons of old.