Sir Paul Battles A Dragon Poem by George Van Den Driessche

Once upon a time
The knights of Saint Alice
Did gather
And is tradition a feast was spread
And forth did the spirits flow
Of soul
Of mead
Gathered here today
Upon this fateful day were
Sir James of Gary
Sir Paul of Shelby
And Sir George of Woodland!

Upon this feast,
A great unnerving sound
Did descend
From heaven did it fall
But what hell was it to reap?

The snow
So long sought
It melted!
And frozen rain fell upon the land
A winter thunderstorm
Plagued the three
Though Sir James, Sir George,
And Sir Paul
Hollered and begged
Shouted and beseeched
The storm did not abate.
It is with such knowledge
Sir Paul of Shelby
Embarked upon his quest
To find the murderer
Of the snow!

“Why are you here?
Thou art not welcome,
It is still winter
Winter delayed and late
But still winter is here”
The rain fell all the harder
Not heading Sir Paul’s cries
The lightning flashed
And the thunder hailed back
“It is not by my
Design, but by another.
My sight
Is not my own
My hand
Is not my hand”

Sir Paul reared back
Slamming the window shut
He rushed
To the armory
And dawning his tweed armor
He murmured,
“Excalibur,
Should my quest be noble
Guide my hand and heart
Should my quest be daring
Let yourself free of your sheath! ”
And Excalibur was freed
For only the most noble
And most daring
May wield thee
So Sir Paul departs
Into flashing lightening
Booming thunder
And freezing rain!

Sir Paul,
Did wander
For many a day
And many a night
Constantly,
Pleading with the rain
“Why must you come?
Leave, and return in Spring
Then, I will welcome thee!
But now is too soon
The snow was too young
It had only just fallen
Its glory was still unsung.”
The rain did whimper
“But it is not I!
For I too, love the snow
For how could I not?
For the snow is myself
Together we bring life
But now the plants will die
Confused,
Awoken from
Their slumber too soon
Will you not set me free? ”
So,
Sir Paul quested.

In the wee hours
Of the night
With fog lying low to the ground
The rain once more spoke,
“Hearken! Hearken!
Mighty warrior
I know I asked thee
To set me free
But I commend thee
You must flee! ”
Sir Paul did not
Instead
He loosed Excalibur
“Who dares Hearken me? ”
And a new thunder surged forth
And a breath of lightning
Struck the ground
Then scales of blue
Parted the fog
And a dragon landed down
Wicked fangs and
Fearsome jowls
Said dragon,
“I dare to hearken thee!
But, who are you
To love the snow
And to despise me?
What stays my claw,
That I should not smite
Thee? ”
So the two stood
Toe to claw
Claw to toe
Sir Paul and the dragon.

“Master Dragon,
It is I
Sir Paul of Shelby
Who despises thee
You enslave the rain
And so waste,
The snow in vain
You skewer the seasons
And lay waste
To all the land
It is I,
Sir Paul of Shelby
Who despises thee”
The dragon glowered
“But the snow is forgotten
Do you not hear
How the people rejoice?
The snow is not missed
And so it is not wanted
So I have come
To enslave the rain
And to alleviate
The pain
That is the snow”

Tears filled our Knight’s eyes
So,
Sir Paul did cry
“Oh fearful Dragon
How you do not understand?
Powerful and fierce
Yet a fool you will be!
Both snow and rain
Are loved
Though in each
At their own time
Both are one
And the same
Both are one
And unique!
They complement each other
And so enhance life
Snow brings home family
Next to a dying hearth
Rain brings home life
As flowers lift their heads
Do you not see?
It is the love
Of season!
That endures
All change! ”

The dragon did whimper
“Sir Knight,
You have moved my heart,
Rain, rain, go now
You are free!
Let what is natural
Now fall upon the Earth! ”
So did,
The dragon depart

Frosted flakes of snow
Did fall upon the land
For that is
What is natural
And so
Sir Paul of Shelby,
Did dance!