Dragon Lore

[Hawkman]

When conversing with a dragon it’s as well to be polite,
for they’re arrogant and playful (in your fear they delight)
and just to be quite certain that your bowels will turn to water,
they like to draw attention to the bones that line their quarters.

These days you’re unlikely to encounter one it’s true,
it’s not as though they’re common in the countryside near you
but if exploring underground in caves is all your pleasure,
you’ll probably encounter one, asleep or guarding treasure.

Now dragons are quite famous for collecting hoards of gold
(this habit is recounted in poetic tales of old)
but if you think he’ll never miss a trinket here or there,
your attitude is foolish, for he’ll wake and singe your hair.

You never will be able to assuage his righteous ire;
with judgement, quick and final, he will roast you in his fire,
then afterwards he’ll count it all, the coins and the jewels
and if he finds some missing, well, his mood will turn quite cruel.

For when a dragon’s feeling robbed, it’s then he’ll venture forth,
laying waste to towns and farms, he’ll flame them in his wrath.
So cavers should be careful if they find a dragon’s hoard,
leave it where you find it, or you’ll end up on his board.

Now this explains, to some degree, why people with the skill
to talk to dragons courteously, are few. They’ve all been killed;
though not because they failed in their conversational art
but rather due to thieving by those cavers with no heart.

For when a dragon’s angry then he’s not inclined to listen,
after finding a reduction in his bed’s habitual glisten,
for then it doesn’t signify how courteous you are,
he’ll flame you for the hell of it and flesh and bones will char.

[dafydd manton]

Ah! But why do you rarely see one? When the mists settle low on Cadair Idrs, and Moel Siabod, that is not mist, it is dragon breath. They, when they are hidden from humn view, they cavort.

That's a lovely bit of verse, Hawk, and having had an affinity with dragons for a very long time, I shall print it off and keep it. I have a dragon called Dai, and another one called Dylan, both of whom bow in your direction.

[Hawkman]

Hi Daffydd, ap y ddriag goch,

I thank you from the heart of my bottom old fruit :D If I could remember how to spell it I would quote the charm of making. A nal na ddraig, dis en dwl thwe etc.etc. or something like that. May I draw your attention to my thread, Cantus Draco, if you are not already familiar with it.

Give my love and homage to your dragons

best, H

[dafydd manton]

Diawl! Not seen it before. I shall investigate. A thousand salutations, my Liege.

[MGK]

the first stanza feels quite forced in terms of rhyme, but the poem pleasantly surprised me by developing a very tasty rhythm and quite beautiful constructions! especially the third and sixth stanzas have a nice ring to them. you have a peculiar style of poetry, it reads like prose almost; is such form fitting for a subject as fantastic as dragons?

[dafydd manton]

MGK, whatever you do, never say anything even remotely negative about dragons, or the lore surrounding them. As Pendragon points out, ".....for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!"

Perygl! Mae'r ddraig goch yn rhyfeddol iawn!

[Hawkman]

Diolch, Dafydd, bach.

MGK Thanks for reading and liking. Actually I didn't think the first verse rhymes felt forced so I guess maybe that's a subjective opinion. Personally I'm quite happy to celebrate Dragons and their lore in any form :D Dragons are in my blood. Maybe one day I'll tell everyone about the Not Dragons, magnificent and terrible, though they are...

Best, H

[dafydd manton]

*Dramatic Chord*

Just realised the provenance........P! Sometimes I can be astoundingly thick!

[PrinceMyshkin]

Sorry to miss all the back and forth in Gaelic or is it Cymri? but the poem is as smooth as dragon-fire. Thamks.

[dafydd manton]

They call it Terrible Welsh, Prince. We're having a contest to see whose is the worst.

[Hawkman]

Thank'ee My Prince, Glad you enjoyed it :D

[Jerrybaldy]

Im not keen on old mythical creatures, but, yourself and daffy aside, I did enjoy your poem on dragons :D
best wishes
Jerry

[Hawkman]

Hauls scarred and ancient carcass from the primordial depths, picks remnant of knight from between 3rd and 4th molar with crusty talon, belches incendiarily, scratches scales, yawns, turns glowing red eyes in your general direction and rumbles, "Thanks!"

Via con dios amigo. H

[hillwalker]

Up to your usual high standards, H. And if you don't have Welsh blood in your veins you will surely acquire honorary Welsh status for championing 'y ddraig goch' - how about updating the 'Mabinogion' next? You're the man to do it.

[dafydd manton]

Rumour has it that he is actually Bendigeid Vran.

[Hawkman]

Well, I sure as hell ain't Branwen! :D

Thanks hill, I will give it serious thought :devil:

Best, H

[dafydd manton]

Can o'r Dreigiau


There's a dragon lives beneath
A boozer in Glynneath
And another in the butchers in Cwmbran.
There's one who holds his breath
In the town of Machynlleth,
And another one who weeps in Aberfan.

There are dragons round the hearth
In a bed-sit in Penarth,
And a couple who play Rugby up the Bont
There are singing ones in Cefn,
Whose strong voices reach to heaven
And a further one who hums in Pant-y-pont.

Sitting quiet in Trefaldwyn,
Eglwys Bach and even Maldwyn
There are dragons whom we humans never see.
Pontypool and fair Llanbadoc
Llanfair Dyffryn and Porthmadoc
Is where the dragons hide from thee and me.

If you're lucky you may see one.
In the hills surrounding Brecon
Though they call it Aberhonddu way down there
There are thousands in Brynmawr
Plus a pair in Rhondda Fawr
And an English one who lives in Overton.

You may do best your best to spot
Something scaly down in Splott,
You could spend all day in sunny Aberdare,
But this is what I'm saying,
The dragons are all playing
Yet they only do it when you are not there!

[hillwalker]

What a star!

[dafydd manton]

Inspired by Hawk's brilliant pieces, both in this and Cantus Draco. Wish I could take the credit, but......................! Hail Hawk!

[Bar22do]

Another long long thread - I seem to come late to your angry dragon and am rather lost in its fiery jaw (for such erring I can only beg the author's lenience), but I read it bravely, not afraid of the beast, and proud, as often, of your hawky craft! Thanks a lot - Bar (hopefully, I expressed myself politely enough...)

[Delta40]

that is a poem I will read to my grandkids! Excellent and highly imaginative

[Hawkman]

Dragons, as has oft been told,
are few and far between;
not as common as of old
And seldom ever seen.

But one I know is still alive
his bones, the rocks and mountains;
wings unfurled eclipse the sun,
he vomits fiery fountains.

The soil beneath your feet, his flesh,
tread soft, or you will wake him,
for if he stirs the earth will move,
it’s hard then to placate him.

He’s ancient and enduring
and his tears fill the seas
seen flowing down through rivers,
though his heart is never eased.

He was the first and is the last
though even now he tires,
his burden is eternal
for he is the world entire.

Sweet Bar,

No dragon wrought by my pen would dare to offer you anything but homage. The hawk, now flagging in his flight, would seek a haven where he might roost a night or two, perhaps feast on a rabbit and dream, while he puts over his bulging crop.

He croaks his thanks at your appreciation of his unworthy efforts and his eyes close as his head takes shelter beneath his wing.

Nos da, melys geneth. H

[Hawkman]

that is a poem I will read to my grandkids! Excellent and highly imaginative

Assuming you refer to mine, I thank you kindly D40. Put the royalty cheque in the post, there's a dear :D

H

[dafydd manton]

Nos da, bach. Nos da! Cysga'n dawel!

Cofion,

Daf!

[Hawkman]

Nos da, bach. Nos da! Cysga'n dawel!

Cofion,

Daf!

Rydych hefyd brawd. Fy chi orffwys yn y llwyni cysegredig ydych yn hen derwydd.

Cofion, H

[kittypaws]

Well after reading this delightful write....I will never steal from a dragon...and I am not speaking of those of old ages as the dragons of this world can be just as firey.

Enjoyed it very much!

Kittypaws

[Hawkman]

Hi kitty,

Very wise, for were all potential thieves in a dragon's eyes :D Glad you liked it.

Live and be well, H