"Guardian (poem)" by Ben Cameron

From innocent imaginings and wild dreams in the night

While the world was growing, came an ancient race

Reptiles born from the shadows of myth; creatures of fiery flight

The power of nature inherit in their hide

But to protect the innocent they were forced to live apart

For to them, was their power inexplicably tied

Their cry reached the distant city folk who trembled as they heard

The calling of their nightmares true: the dragons come to life

In gaping chasms and craggy peaks these giant creatures stirred

And lifting, soaring, gliding down, they swept across the sky

But despite their size and splendour; as wild as nature be

Innocence hid them from the peril drawing nigh

For some that gazed on the dragons were filled with strange unrest

Their thoughts wandered everyday towards those great scaled beasts

Until they met and saddled up, riding five abreast

Each and every one they tracked, till all bar one they’d found

And what should have been a lifetime rivalling the elves

Was ended with a thrust, left to rot upon the ground.

As the dragons became extinct, magic became a tradition

And other magical beasts died; pixies, mermaids, sprites

Till they all became legend and then mere fiction

For dragons were the guardians ensuring magic did thrive

Thus with their death, science took charge, and facts replaced fancy

Except for that one sole dragon, who kept the myths alive.