A Dragon's Lament

I'm tired of being a dragon,

Ferocious and brimming with flame,

The cause of unspeakable terror

When anyone mentions my name.

I'm bored with my bad reputation

For being a miserable brute,

And being routinely expected.

To brazenly pillage and loot.

I wish that I weren't repulsive,

Despicable, ruthless and fierce,

With talons designed to dismember

And fangs finely fashioned to pierce.

I've lost my desire for doing

The deeds any dragon should do,

But since I can't alter my nature,

I guess I'll just terrify you.

~ © Jack Prelutsky!

Once They All Believed in Dragons

by Jack Prelutsky (from The Dragons are Singing Tonight)

Once they all believed in dragons When the world was fresh and young, We were woven into legends, Tales were told and songs were sung, We were treated with obeisance, We were honored, we were feared, Then one day they stopped believing - On that day, we disappeared.Now they say our time is over Now they say we've lived our last, Now we're treated with derision Where we once ruled unsurpassed. We must make them all remember, In some way we must reveal That our spirit lives forever - We are dragons!  We are real!