Thinking to himself
He had guard duty today
Truth would be enough
To reason with his superior
And explain away
The fact
He didn’t let anyone know he
Was missing a day with
Love bursting in his chest
There was something he had to say
So he rode quickly
Fast
Past
Streetlights
Over past
Some overpass
Past over
A few bridges
To arrive at the dragon’s lair
Middle of nowhere
Stopped at the gate
He had to wait
Then three voices spoke
“Leave at once, Sir.”
“I would not have looked
At you twice
If I were her.”
That voice sounded like the dragon
Then a third
“My word, dear.
Have some class.”
Then the sounds became muffled
Roaring
And screaming
Then silence
But he was still at the gate
Wait
What was he expecting
He had no sword
And out here there are no stones
To rest in
Resting close by
To break a house
Made of diamond glass
It’s a wonder
How destiny could change
With a heartbeat
Still he waited
Then the gate opened
To ominous sounds
Ominous hounds
But he was already making his way
Up the path
To cross the river
Feeling the chill that rose made him cold
But the blood curdling howl
Made him shiver
He wasn’t one to run
But
He didn’t want only his soul
To cross the stream
He had just enough time
To leave a message
Before he had to turn tail
Figurative
And flea
What was he expecting
Inspecting his dirty clothes
Smelling his un-bathed pores
He did this
After
All the sweating
He made it out the doors
Gate
Wait
He looked back at the monsters
Staring on the other side
Trying
To put holes in him
Deflated
Sudden impulse
That lasted a night
Abated
What was he expecting