And now for something completely different

Tonight's blog post is a poem. Something I wrote last year, and tweaked a bit recently.

Dragon of the Great White North
Copyright Jim Proctor 2016

Wind slips through the barren boughs whispering your name
Desolate is the realm you rule with none but you to blame
Friends who came to sing your praise are nowhere to be found
And even your own precious scales have fallen to the ground

How bitter cold it must be upon your golden hoard
Silence fills the regal hall where once you were adored
All the words you craft with guile fail to find an ear
A dragon's words are her best tools, more than fire and fear

A flame that shone upon your realm you scarcely can remember
Kept alive by one who cared, though now it's just an ember
A winter comes without a spring for he who kept the flame
Beyond the realm of mortal pain he'll pass on without shame

He no longer wonders why you chose to cast him out
A caring friend, always true, loyal and devout
As he goes, his chin held high, he takes the lonely path
That leads away from pain and loss and dragon's unjust wrath

He gave you all he had to give, asked little in return
But taking is what dragons do with nary a concern
Gifts, they are a dragon's due, this is the ancient rule
And he who gave with open heart was nothing but a fool

Upon your hoard, alone and cold, you'll drink your bedtime wine
And weave the words that few will hear, thinking them divine
Though somewhere out among the stars, his flame will gently glow
In your hall deep under ground, its warmth you'll never know

Now and then you venture up from your hidden hall
At the threshold you look out, statuesque and tall
Your voice falls flat across the land, feeble and unclear
Some simple words that you thought up for faithful ears to hear

But barren land and broken stone are all that hear your call
Those who cared are all now gone far from lane and wall
Under the relentless sun you squint and look about
And wonder where your people went who once were so devout

One by one, they went away on business of their own
Those who used to bring you gold and place it by your throne
And praise you for enchanted words that touched them deep inside
Once beyond your influence, your yoke they won't abide

All alone you turn and crawl back to your bed of gold
You settle in and drink your wine and shiver in the cold
Darkness seeps into your veins from the ancient stone
You close your eyes and fall asleep, forlorn and alone.

And in your dreams your realm is full of people old and young
Who live and breathe their every breath to hear your silver tongue
They call your name and sing your praise with voices that do soar
This is how things aught to be for always and evermore

When you awake, you rush outside, recalling your sweet dream
But broken walls and empty lanes are all that can be seen
The wind through barren branches whispers in the lane
It sings a different tune now, it can't recall your name

Tears will never fill your eyes, your heart is made of stone
That is why you find yourself deserted and alone
But you are strong and fearless, a rock under the sky
Ask anyone and they will tell you, rocks don't cry