Long ago I was gifted a large

green dragon candle

with glowing red eyes.

In resting green dragon pose

it watches everything that goes on

We have reached an accommodation

where I don’t light the candle and

the dragon does not breathe fire

in my presence.

It does not talk or make noises

but I can sense disapproval

with a mere tilt of its head.

Once after I had to cleaned up

the ash that gathered

on the table and the carpet

the dragon winked.