by Richard Ellis

Created on: September 11, 2009

In ancient times of sword and spear,
When adventurers showed no mortal fear,
They sailed off into the unknown sphere,
With maps that warned "Dragons be here!"
And hunted the beasts for king and peer;
Dragon slaying was a lucrative career.

Dragons with wings and some without,
Some breathing fire out of their snout,
'Tis said they hoarded great riches, no doubt,
Which they hid in their formidable redoubt,

All authority they would scornfully flout,
To the fear of the populace round-about.

The dragons of days past were fearlessly bold,
For ages they had an established foothold,
Raiding and pillaging totally uncontrolled;
All that they did can never be told,
Their wicked deeds were quite manifold,
So stories about them never grow old.

But knights of old brought about a dearth
Of fearsome great dragons on the earth,
And returned to the people gayety and mirth;
The dragons of today are not of great girth,
Only small things of little monetary worth,
Their bounty wouldn't pay a dragon slayers berth.

However, there are still dragons around,
Though not of great size, still they abound,
If one looks in the right places they can be found:
The descendants of ancient reptilians renowned,
And who knows but that someday they might rebound,
With the power of old to astonish and astound.

And once again maps would have legends which read:
"Dragons be here! With caution proceed!"

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