Gates of Osmium Iridium
#7 of National Poetry Writing Month
This poem for National Poetry Month is also about dragons! While these dragons will not be directly featured in my book, Reign of Ice, they might be mentioned in passing. However, I do plan to incorporate them into the series farther down the line. It's just too good of an idea to pass up. They have been known by many names throughout history as has their kingdom, but most commonly they are known as Iron Knights.
These dragons are in the same category as the White Wraith I wrote a poem about yesterday. I still need a name for them both and the select other dragons like them. Supreme Dragons is the only thing coming to mind at the moment but I'd like something better.
Hanging at the edge of the world
deep within mountains that touch
the heavens. Colossus of stone that
have existed since the founding of
the known world.
A place long since forsaken by
even the most remote of civilizations.
Where even the greatest of myths
and legends do not dare to tread.
A place of unparallelled magnificence
forgotten and abandoned to those who
think it only a myth. A mighty fable
upon which the tales of hero's were built.
Here at the top of the world in towering
mountains few even know exist are the
Gates of Osmium Iridium.
Here lie sacred halls abandoned and
without even a whisper to break the silence.
Mighty thrones carved from stone lie
waiting with eternal patience for their
ruler to arrive from his rest.
Mighty statues guard hallways and
libraries that would take several
lifetimes to explore to their end.
Soaring wings that bore the weight of
mountains once touched the heavens
here at the Gates of Osmium Iridium.
A roar that could shatter the earth once
shook the halls. Charging footsteps
made the land tremble worse then
the fiercest of earthquakes.
Fangs of steel and tongues of silver
once spoke words of wisdom to the world
and a kingdom of iron warriors once
ruled the land with claws that could
shatter diamonds beneath their grasp.
Here at the Gates of Osmium Iridium
history holds its breath waiting
until the time when it will turn again
and write itself into the present.
For here in these long forgotten halls
nothing lays abandoned at all.
Tread carefully under the gaze of
the iron knights whose statues
guard every corner of this sacred
and legendary place.
For the statues have ears and
they are always listening.
They have wings that will shatter
the earth and carry mountains
through the heavens.
They have claws to shatter
diamonds and fangs that crush
steel into powder.
They have hearts of metal beating
in patient rhythm as they await
the time when they will be called
into action once again.
They have bones of titanium and
laugh at the weakness of mortals.
The Gates of Osmium Iridium are
not abandoned and the mightiest
kingdom world has ever known has
not died at all.
Theirs is the empire that shaped the
world and the dragons who reign
here sit as still as statues carved
of stone until their time to act
comes once again.
And when these mighty dragons
of old stir themselves their words
will turn the past into the present
and the future will ride on scales
made of osmium iridium.