POETRY: Ode to the Wannabe Dragon Slayer
A little poem that attempts to clear up the most ridiculous of fairy tale cliche's, the notion that a mere human on a horse could defeat a huge, flying, fire spewing dragon.
With his armor shining brightly, and a heart both brave and true, he rode out to slay the dragon, 'twas the knightly thing to do.
Since a child he'd heard stories, of heroes bold and brave, who rescued helpless maidens. And sent dragons to their graves.
But, odd, he thought, if knights indeed, accomplished such a feat, Why no flayed skins, or mounted heads, to prove the beasts' defeat?
And if he'd known in other lands, far West and to the East the dragons there were worshiped, and were believed more God than beast.
And if he had read his Bible, he would've found troubling things, for his own God, like this dragon, has both fiery breath and wings.
Ancient Hebrews blessed His idol, a flying reptile on a staff, and this God, just like the dragon, relished virgin, lamb and calf.
So the knight rode off to battle, unaware of what he faced, but his mount would go no further, and with trepidation paced.
No horse dared charge a dragon, (except in fairy tales), so the knight advanced dismounted, 'gainst fire and rock-hard scales.
To dragons, sword, or ax, or spear, are little more than toys, and knights however brave and skilled, are no more a threat than boys.
To the dragon, this was child's play, a game of cat and mouse, the man, a six foot rodent, the cat, large as a house.
In a moment it was over, just as quick as it began, the reptile roared in triumph, as he clutched the squirming man.
Then the dragon nonchalantly, plucked the armor from the knight, then opened wide great fearsome jaws, intent to take a bite.
The knight then begged for mercy, yet no mercy did he find, since he came to slay the dragon, he was repaid that fate in kind.
As he vanished down the monster's maw, he pondered his mistake - no man can kill a dragon, and Saint George was a fake.
Alas! Only in fairy tales, can man defeat a God, dragon-slaying's but a nonsense for small children to applaud.