The Old Dragon

• 
• 

Inside his cave the old dragon sleeps

And dreams of long ago

Of the battles he fought and the victories he won

And of how he defeated each foe.

 

He dreams of when his wings were strong

How each day he used to fly

For hours with other dragons

Swooping across the sky.

 

He dreams of the aerial tricks he’d perform

And how he used to soar

And twist and turn and twirl and spin

Before landing on one claw.

 

He dreams of how he once breathed fire

And the havoc that he caused

Among the villagers who cowered with fear

When they heard his fierce roars.

 

He dreams that he is young again

And that people gape and stare

At his gleaming silver scales

As he flashes through the air.

 

And as he turns in his sleep

A tear trickles from his eye

As he dreams of the flights he used to make

And he utters a long sigh.

 

Inside his cave the old dragon sleeps

And dreams of long ago

Of the battles he fought and the victories he won

And how he defeated each foe.

The Old Dragon © John Foster 2013

Have You Ever?

• 
• 

Have you ever seen a fox learning to box

Or heard a butterfly cry?

Have you ever played rummy with a pharaoh’s mummy

Or snakes and ladders with a fly?

Have you skated on the ice with a family of mice

Or looked the Loch Ness Monster in the eye?

Have you ever heard a scarf give a hearty laugh

Or heard a bow-tie give a sigh?

Have you ever had a chat with a ginormous rat?

You haven’t? Well, neither have I!

 

Copyright © John Foster

Have You Ever? is included in Born To Giggle, a collection of poems compiled by Ian Billings, published by Save the Children.