The Mystery of Dragons

"In the days before time, dragons were not rare

But lived all around for men to fight, if they dare

Or hunt and tease,

Or idolise and please.

Torn between ignorant loathing and fear

And a strange fascination for the growls they could hear,

The foul stench of smoke and heavy sweep of tail

Clad in great, shiny scales - like a coat of chain mail

A huge yellow underbelly and deep crusted jaws

Two jagged wings and fiercely curved claws.

These were the monsters of mythical history

Whose very existence, an evolutionary mystery.

Where did they come from and why were they here?

No one could be sure and it was never made clear.

But their beautiful colours and shapely form,

The fiery ability with which they were born,

And their fearsome size and miraculous flight

Made them, indeed, a terrifying sight.

Heraldic icon or story-teller’s fable,

They never belonged in some farmer’s stable.

But lived wild and free,

In mountainous scree

And great forests and meadows,

Or cavernous shadows.

Some people considered them bringers of luck

But if they flew low in the sky, you’d certainly duck.

Vast pastures of land could be scorched by their flame

And if preying on people could hurt, kill or maim

So it’s hardly surprising that the stories have grown

In awed and excited and fearful tone.

But the truth about dragons is far more complicated

And to understand that you will need to be dedicated

To the study of dragons in all their forms

Whether lizards or serpent or the ancient “worms”

Long-lived and reputedly wise,

A dragon exists in many a guise…