Laired heavy on scales
atop diamonds and gold
wrapped in her tail;
she’s older than old.
her breathing is fire
her veins are from venom;
all the humans are liars
but lettered on vellum
is the spell to subdue
and bind her forever
to her treasure accrue
it’s a hero’s endeavour
lacking armour and sword
he’s cunning, a thief
but armed with those words
the dragon’s asleep; a relief.
rebuilding the cities
with proceeds from his tricks
got stuck in committees,
tighter than claws is their grip.
Please bring back the dragon
the directors are worse
than the fires that flatten
we beg for reversal of curse
Today Kim hosts dVerse with a prompt on dragons, of course I am thinking of Smaug immediately and thought about the story the Hobbit which I read as a boy in a version illustrated by Tove Jansson who also was “the mother” of the Moomin trolls who became world famous.
November 19, 2024
Björn Rudbergs writings 
I adore Tove Jansson’s illustration and stories, Björn, as well as The Hobbit, and I love that your dragon was influenced by them. It would be wonderful if we could bring back dragons, and I love the one you’ve brought us tonight: female, blingy, and ‘older than old’.
Sometimes I write where the rhymes bring me.
Me too!
To get stuck in committees is definitely worse than fighting dragons!
Committees are dragons.
And not easy to get rid off. They only proliferate as one thing leads to another!
“Please bring back the dragon
the directors are worse”
Nice one
much♡love
Nice one, Bjorn. At least when we battle dragons, we can see what we’re up against.
Bring back a dragon, even if passed a best….yes….a certain innocence …great referencing, impeccable rhyme & rhythm sll make gor a highly enjoyable and easy read with such a natural flow
A great dragon poem, Bjorn.
Bravo, Bjorn! Love the tempo of your poem.
Amen. Our cures are far worse than the dragon’s curse. Ever and always. I believe that when the dragon returns she’ll take out the power grid and burn our vellum verse into to hearse.
Committees, the death knell of progress and the slayers of excellence. Lynch mob of useful thinking.
I have always loved Tove’s drawings of Tolkien. Did you know that one of her drawings changed the text of the hobbit?
No that one I didn’t know, and I am amazed that here drawings were known outside Sweden and Finland
It’s not easy to see, always, where or what horror comes from. A dragon to blame can be a solution, I see.
Lovely response to the prompt, Björn, and I didn’t know Tove Jannson’s illustration of Smaug – grew up with the Moomintrolls – our first introduction to things Scandinavian…
She draw a lot of fantastic images from the book…
Pingback: Bring back the dragon – Review | Adam Fenner·
Wonderful poem Bjorn, I review poetry past and present on my own page.
I hope you don’t mind, but I did that for this poem. I’ve shared the link below. If you have any issues, I’ll immediately take it down.
You may find the link to the review here.
Yep, the dragons of past are better than the dictators of today.
“she’s older than old.
her breathing is fire
her veins are from venom;
all the humans are liars”
Wow! Great descriptions, Bjorn. 🙂
The U.S. has certainly resuscitated it’s main dragon.
HI Bjorn, your poem gave me a good giggle. I agree, dragons are better than politicians.
That diva dragon. Her first stanza swept me away, and really enjoyed your final twist.
As the old saying goes, “Better the devil you know.”
Here’s to bringing the dragons back!
I would love to bring this dragon back.. she sounds like someone we need.. I know I took my time getting here but thank you for your kind comments on my dragon poem..