Ceased His Fearless Roar
Listening to his favorite song,
he liked the lyrics, and always sang
along. Afterwards he’d ask
the most insightful questions.
“Why would anyone name
a magic dragon Pup?”
and, “Don’t you think it’s silly
to put wax on the ceiling?
Where is Honah Lee anyway?”
Then he said. “I’d like to go there
some day.” As I listened again,
a single line struck me hard:
“A dragon lives forever,
but not so little boys.”
I broke down at the prophetic
reality of it all. If magic dragons
were real, I’d ask for a single
wish.
7 thoughts on "Ceased His Fearless Roar"
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captures the feel of seeing as a child
This is very powerful!
Fun
Thank you all!
Effective title!
We do hang on to our illusions…and let go reluctantly..but learn eventually, they are a place to visit.
I was confused at first because of “Pup” as a name you referenced–but looked up the Peter Paul and Mary song on youtube–and listened to it all the way through just now(golly, I really did that)…and it is “Puff” as I recalled…and I do remember the concept that it was about drugs in the 60’s, but denied by the singers and author of the song…but rather it was true, according to the author that it is about the loss of innocence— and I think that is what comes across in your poem–once you are questioning, the dream is almost gone. That may be a long way of saying: Thanks for bringing me to another place and for your poem! I really enjoyed reading it.
Glad you enjoyed it. The small child was asking his parent about the dragon’s name, and was mispronouncing it as so many do. When I was a child (many years ago) I sang, “in a land called Donna Reed.” Young children tend to assemilate rather than accommodate. So, yes, I realize the name of the dragon was “Puff.”