Great Man of China

This poem misrepresents the Chinese view of Dragons and takes more of the European historical view of insidious creatures. The Chinese view Dragons as lucky. But I like the poem and it is an interesting blending of the two diffrerenet conceptions of Dragons.

How I titter how I totter, how I skip while I start to sing.

All I have to offer is my hat and my coat and my bag on the end of a string.

I travel from the South to the mountains of the North to the famed great valleys of Ting.

Where the streets are paved of gold, though I carry not a Sol when I return I will be rich as a king.

In the past I have sighed, wept and wailed, cried out loud from my hard unabated labourings.

When the load on my baack and the pain in my neck was enough to make a torturer cringe.

But now I sing for I am free as the birds and the bees from a life that was barely living.

For all I have to carry is my hat and my coat and my bag on the end of a string.

But now I shiver now I shudder, now I quaver and I quiver.

From this bite on the tip of the wind.

There's a shudder in the air, though I am not a man to scare, there is something now quite near me I should fear.

First I tiptoe then I listen, the I tiptoe forth a bit.

Now I wonder what is this I hear.

It's a deep throated sigh with a thrumming in its throat thaqt I am sure is of the devilish kin.

How I tremble how I wobble, how my knees begin to topple, as from around this boulder I peer.

But there's nothing there at all but the thrumming of some falls.

And the girth of a Luck Dragon.

Now I skitter now I scamper, now I take a leap for cover to avoid its breath of flame.

As I huddle in a puddle while my heart is beating double but it seems its not forthcoming.

I quickly peak over the boulder, then tuck my head back under cover, then try to recollect what I have seen.

Not a thing can I remember so I take anohter peep.

Into the maw of the Luck Dragon.

"Good man it seems you're faster than a hare that's caught aflame and I promise such things I have seen.

On a good day I would eat you but today I think I won't for I dbout that I could fit you in.

So I think I might just flame you, make you bones upon the ground that alas might bring me some cheer.

From a rummble in my tummy that a demon whome I ate went and gave me when I swallowed his tears.

So if you'll stand still for a moment while I sunnon up my flame I shall make this short and sweet.

As he took in one great breath, and I readied for my death, yet the only thing that hit me was his stench.

Now I wouldn't want to quibble with the writings of the great, with Lao Tzu, Fang Kuo, Fu Hsi

But they never spoke of Dragons killing with a breath that was no more than a flatulent wind.

I looked with caution at the Dragon, at the look upon his face, that was the very broken face of misery.

Even though he'd meant to eat me and to flame me with his breath, I could not but look upon him pitifully.

"Great Dragon though you'd kill me with the greatest of all ease, there is something to your life that I might bring.

Though all I have to offer is my hat and my coat and my bag on the end of a string.

Now I can see that something ails thee and in days that now have passed, to the creatures of the forest I brought ease.

Now those tears that you have swallowed, that have brought you =such great pain, maybe from these things I will bring you ease."

Now the Dragon began to giggle, then to titter, then to cry as once more his great frame belched.

THen he seemed to reconsider. "Well at least its worth a try, maybe one such as yourself can bring me health."

So we sat down and we pondered and we tinkered and we thought but there was only one solution I could think,

that perchance I could be lowered, and I know it sounds insane, that the Dragon he could stuff me down his throat.

Said the Dragon. "Now my good friend, and I know you mean the best, but I think that in my belly you will find,

that the weather there is hostile, but the scenery is great, I am afraid my little friend you will be fried.

But there is some hope of living if you will undertake a quest to the deep enchanted caverns of the west.

For there possessed by a Magician is a very special vial that when swallowed makes immune to Dragons breath.

But this one thing I cannot quest for, for although I have great braun to outwit this great Magician would take brain.

And good man you seem quite clever, yes you seem adept at wit. So good man will you quest for me to the West."

There was no hesitation, nor was there need to rest, not a moment did I take to catch my breath.

I farewelled the greatful Dragon and set out upon my search with the barest warning whisper in my mind.

As to where I was now headed, as to what I could expect, as to now upon this search I headed why?

These thoughts I deepply buried, yes I fled them from my head as the sun began to low horizons crest.

Then the answer came so sudden, then the answer came so fresh for the Gods that sit about me set to test.

Yes me a lowly peasant with no name or lands to claim, set out now to quest for magic to the West.

So with these thoughts set firm to charge me, set to keep me on my way, yes I travelled on for many weary days.

Into forests deep and azure on through mountains clefty might but for all my yearning searched I could not find

not the faintest hint nor trail upon, nor slightest clue to fall upon, the barest ghostly wisp of wizard sign.

Till a day when all my hopes had gone to where all vain hopes go, the bleakest most abyssal dark abyss.

Then I came upon a Palance grand of chiselled walls of stately fans with luscious gardens past its gate of the the good tahst wealth can make.

It was there alone my reason found, no niche to rest my weary mind, for all the order all around, there were no servants to be found.

I stopped then still for all cold backs can tell when eyes have spied thee and waited thena knowing wait, until my pray should find me.

Then bing and bang and some kaboom mine predator beknoiwnst him and in lightning strike and bliding flash, a royal Mage in foam.

I stumbled back he wiped away the foam and suds of wat3ers fate with graven sybmols owe his frame he took a bow and said

"My name is Urlin Finn of watersbreak. I may not seem like much to you, but you should see the things I do.

I quell the tides, control the break, and stray with fish below the moon. Called straining waves to smash my foe and watered where the peasants sow.

But it seems to me I've lost myh place tell stranger have you lost your way or come with richly deals to make, or do we meet by happenstake."

"Great mage," I said, and half in farce did bow and tremble at his feet. "Take pity on a strangers fleeting bouts of curiosity.

I mean't no trespass by this chanceless meeting. I merely came to see what wonders your great wisdom frees

So please I beg thee find the time to make your wonders part of mine.

He seemed to think to ponder still, what horrors must his mind have filled.

But the he said. "If all you wish is but to see my potent thrills then please feel free to be my muse and experience how I confuse."

But first some tea, yes that is right, so long alone my manners flight.Please come inside, unload that sack that must weigh heavy on your back.

And feel at home but do not roam, for I'd cringe to see you levied low. For my friend you'll find that here and theret, there lie great traps that spring and snare

so be thee warned I wish not to see my only guest gone past my reach.

So we had tea and dukmplings too. I ate my fill somewhat more than few.

Until all that was left was crumbs he said, and summoned up his charm.

"Now what great wonders shall I weave, bring the waves or part the sea, or maybe let the lightning free"

"Something simple that should do. I agree and so I hope do you."

He raised his arms and then a snake appeared and breathing gouts of flame.

A cat of mighty awesome might, an owl with eyes ow for the night.

And many more and many yet and some I will never see again.

A crazy dog with leaping legs, a cow with skin as thick as steal and horn atop its nose

and at last that one enchannted thing, a truly blackened rose.

This last wonder must have sorely drained, for he slept and would not rise again.

This chance I took I dallied not for chance comes not that oft

For one small vial I knew not what its form would take or graven sort

But search I did until at last I placed my hands upon a vial with skull and crossbones on it's nape

"Dear friend it seems you took your leave, while tired out I lay asleep"

"But now I wonder why you roamed a true thief would have slit my throat"

"A coward try to trust me up, a visitor to wake me."

"What's this I see within your palm. I see a vial of poison balm"

"Why this, why this, why would you take a poison so easy to make"

"Come speak my frined I wish to know why while I slept you chose to roam."

"I mean't no harm great Urlin Finn" I said as I regained my feet.

"I merely wished to help a friend" As my fleeting voice came back to me.

"ly Dragon from the eastern end. There is one vial I sought to raise"

"Alas no sols have I to pay. And so I sought to take in stealth some magic so above my wealth."

"I believe afresh its best to start." Great Urlin said with steady charm.

"Now take a seat my friend be still. We have all the time left in the world"

"And tell me of this Dragon friend of yours that you have chose to help."

So I told him from the start to end of where I travelled, why and when.

Of the Dragon whom I pitied so, and of the miles that lay behind me.

"Good friend.", he said as he poured tea, "such company you choose to keep.

"A dragon friend and nothing less, now this is quite a puzzle."

"See dragons make a snack of man or play them to their tune"

"But dragons who make friends of men are nine times less than few."

"This dragon now you say he ails, his health is not quite pure"

"And you say that going down his throat would be the only cure"

"Now stop me if I seem of track with logic going nowhere"

"But that which lies in dragons throat regains its freedom never."

"So now I ask why do you wish such strenuous adventure."

"There are many thrills a man can have and safer ways to get there"

"So now lets see what shall we do you might need some protection"

"a lion skin, some poison balm, a wand of red destruction"

"Great Urlin Finn" I said at last. "I know you wish the best but this dragon who you seek to slay I assure you is my friend."

"Now listen here you foolsih sot." Said Urlin in great temper. "The only reason you're still here is due to a foolish dragons fever"

"So listen now or pay the price of a wisdomless adventure for many dragons I have met and all of them were clever."

So I listened then of all teh thigns that a dragons life will sever of tricks and points upon the frame, of things that make them weaker.

I also learned of all he knew of a dragons treacherous reason, of the many men who'd come to harm through dragons lies and treason.

And through it all we made a deal that both of us agreed on and I left that witty Urlin Finn with two vials of strong protection.

The snow has come, the trees lie dead, all creatures lie in torpor. So I sing a solemn lonely song to cheer me as I wander.

"How I titter, how I totter, how I pitter, how I potter, how I skip while I start to sing."

"All I have to offer is my hat and my coat and the balm of a luck dragon."

"As I travel from the west to the mountains of the east for one great courageous thing"

"To take a journey of a sort down a dragon of a throat to remove the tears of Da-e-mon"

"I travel thnough the vallyes of swaying maize, through the forests of the snarling wolf."

"Never do I fear for all the monsters of the world for a fool has naught to fear"

"As the days filter by so the glow in my eyes begins to brighten with the coming of spring."

Now I am here where I began with no dragon to be found. Not a hint, not a trace, not a thing.

Many nights have I here slept by the thrumming of the falls by a great rock coral. Here on call do I wait for my friend.

"Good man it seems you have returned." Came the dragon from a stone, on a morn in the height of spring.

"And it seems that you have come with the potion I have yearned." Said the dragon as I gained my feet.

"And I am sure that you have questioned all where-withs and all wherefores. So good man are you now ready to go in?"

"For as you see I am now weaker then at last I had been seen and my only path in life has lain in sleep."

"For my friend if you are ready, as I sorely hope you are, will you free me from this pain of which I sing."

So I cloaked myself in potion and the dragon opened wide his maw, many thoughts of trepidation had I then

As I tumbled ow his teeth and walked on toward his throat, I wondered at the dragons heights of sin.

For his throat it was a cavern of a putrid acrid kind with the smell of burning sulphur on his breath.

The great gouts of his saliva burnt like acid on my skin then I slipped and slid like water to my death.

I awoke within a cavern-ous land reached out of sight. With a colour scheme quite obviously red.

With plants the like I have not seen and will not see again and a path of gold below on which I tred.

Each footfall that I took left aft a trail of silken thread like the greatly flashing lights within my head

For the wonders set before me truly weighed upon my mind as these scaly gaunten creatures by me filed.

With the whispers of the landscape communicating as I tried to pull my head together should it fry.

And that thread kept getting thicker as did every hampered step as I travelled throught this land what seemed for miles.

And the vision that beset me of a spectral sealy kind, of the many hampered spirits cheaply blessed.

Then a darkness came upon me so that all I could see that was left was a slowly glowing ember in the dark.

As I struggled and I hampered forth until all of me was pain and the soul that lies within me filled with dread.

Yes I harkened on and harkened forth so willing on and on till I was sure that my last breath would be my next.

Then I sought in flames before me and I saw what lay within was a glowing little bead fashioned from glass.

So I reached down and I sought it till it lay within my grasp then I dropped my other vial to take its place.

Then in one tremendous thunder, within gouts of liquid flame, ushered forth from out the dragons open mouth.

"Good man I see you have the key, the tear the demon sheltered, and the value in your hands I know is vast"

"But it seems the time to part has come, though your company I valued. So scrumptious do you seem, your time has passed."

"Good dragon I know your hunger grows through disipating patience. But now I have for you one last request."

"That you flay me for consumption, that you do not leave me cold, for I fear that I might lead to indigestion."

"So cook me well and serve me hot, with a dash of Tobasco sauce. That you have me as a roast is my suggestion."

"Dear friend" the dragon said in tears. "the good within you never seems to wane or run in lack within your chest"

"So this pain I will hold forever for the potion has worn off and I fear that it will offer no protection"

So he summoned up his breath as I waited my last seconds, turned the strangest shade of blue and went to heaven.

For the potion that I dropped I dropped within his fire and that vial when broke his life immediately severed.

"Well done my friend" I spun and turned till Urlin lay before me.

"I carry here your payment paid and some for inspiration. I wish you well upon your path this dragon should suffice me"

"In spells and incantations that should alone a life time last me."

So he set off as did I and I sung a song of acquisition.

So my audience my frineds and fans my song you can sing with me.

As I set out upon my lonely trip as I return to my Mondeschay.