” The Copper Dragon” by Mandy Austin Cook
it blinked a quick blink
with an otherwise steady gaze
and a surprisingly flat part to its angeldy head
wound around itself like a glistening ball of glowing copper scales
gleaming in the sunlight.
its forked tongue dashing out with a hypnotic quiet
just looking at me,
as if to understand
what I was about.
I spoke with my eyes but not with my mouth
standing within arm’s reach gazing with a mutual respect
I was too young to know the danger
all I saw was metallic patterned magic
a dragon without feet unmoving except for eyes and tongue
and that intoxicating silence in its observation
it let me wander on along my way
agreeing to disagree on being friends
the five year old in me was delighted
with the experience
Until I told my uncle John
Who adventured out barefoot
to silence the Copper Dragon.