Another....... When Dragons Ruled the Skies The timess long gone the old man said. Youve come too late, my son. Youll see them not in this sad age, their time is long since done A hundred years ago and more, theyve been gone from this land. His voice was tough but his voice said Aye lad I understand. For I had sailed cross half a world to seek the fabled isles Where I had heard that dragon wings still soared across the skies. You must have come from far indeed, he said with knowing eyes. The word has gone afar and wide that they have left our skies. Sit down a while, young lad. Let me tell you a tale Of dragons streaming down the wind, sunlight bright on their scales A tale my grandfather told me when I was but a lad, For I too know the dragons draw, Id fain not leave you sad. And so I sat down at his feet, upon a tuft of grass, And listened as he spun a tale of beasts of gold and brass, With scales brighter than minted coin, wings glinting in the sun, Higher by far than eagles soar Dragons were wont to run. He told of glory greater far than any work of men, Of wisdom born in aeons past and held in trust since then. His eyes were bright with boyhoods gleam as dusk crept down the sky, I knew he heard an older voice, from when he, just like I, Had sat and listened to the tale, hanging on every word From one who might have seen it true, in a more wondrous world He told it as much for himself as he told it for me For his heart knew the yearning too those golden wings to see. At last his tale drew to a close and with one breath we sighed Imagining a brighter age before the wonder died When unicorns roamed in the woods and giants still were seen And mountain valleys echoed with the griffons fearless scream When wizards walked upon the earth with magic in their eyes When elves lived side by side with men and Dragons ruled the skies. Well thats the tale he said at last. My grandpa told to me He said he saw with his own eyes their wings over the sea The day they flew into the west never again to fly Above the hills of this green isle. He heaved a heavy sigh And said to me Well I must go, the sun is nearly set My wife will have the dinner done, and homes a long walk yet Perhaps youll come and eat with us? Theres plenty to go round. Though his offer sore tempted me, I stood and looked around Then politely I did decline -- I too must go, said I And he gave me a knowing look, and briefly caught my eye I turned and walked back down the hill, towards the little town That slumbered quietly round the bay where I had come aground. Back to my skiff I made my way, and raised the sail once more And with the sunset on my face, I turned my back to shore Ahead lay naught but open sea, I saw no hint of land But still I set the tiller with a firm and steady hand For somewhere to the west they soar and westward my course lies, Till I have found the fabled land where Dragons rule the skies. Now I have sailed ten thousand leagues and Ill sail many more And storm and wreck Ill gladly brave as I have braved before Though empty is the open sea and bitter winters storms Emptier stills a dreamless soul and crueler is the scorn Of those who do not dare to dream and cling to hearth-fires glow I left them without looking back many a year ago. So now the ocean is my road all through the starlit night Till the sun rises at my back and in the dawns grey light I see an island long and low a half days sail away Hid under heavy looming clouds not yet lit by the day Yet as dawn brightens in the sky I see a sudden gleam As the suns first ray glances from a circling seabirds wing. But surely no bird could be seen as far afield as this And no feather could ever gleam so bright in dawns first kiss Another shines and still a third, a spark of golden fire From thirty leagues I see them climb soaring higher and higher Surely nothing but dragons scale could so brazenly shine As they thunder into the air in beauty near divine. I see them clearly though my eyes are filled with tears of joy For finally Ive found the dream I first dreamed as a boy My skiff fair flies across the waves, her bow spits spindrift foam Though never have I seen this shore, I feel Im coming home And overhead the sky is gold and glory fills my eyes The crystal air is wonder pure And Dragons Rule The Skies. ~ unknown
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 02:03:12 +0000
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