Carl Newlen

Dragons and Hunters

- July 10, 2009, 3:33 pm | Dragon Song

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1.

The passion
of the early dragon-hunters
is unmistakable, perhaps
magnificent toward darkness.

Their experiences
remain within the stories
of the miserable beasts
with wings of new sunlight
and tails of gold smoke.

Arched like a great horse,
clawed as a lizard,
these scaled creatures owned
the powerful movements
that lifted their bodies
to feigned flight--
every leap forward,
a half mile covered,
more when riding
the winds.

With a firm, unrelenting rage
they ravened all that they saw by
fire.

Blackened bones and ashes were
what remained
of the hunters who had come to
kill them.

Dragons abused their prey before roasting.
For the pleasure of another`s agony
they were insatiable.


2.

It is a violent mating,
talons closing around her neck
and flanks, as foam and water
splash in the starlight, swirling
into steam where the drops
pass through his flaming breath.

Rocks echo the screams.

Violent and brief.

He rises
while she floats as if dead,
the blood drifting
into misty circles around her.
Soon she will swim to the shore
where another female waits
until he is ready again.


3.

When hunting alone
direct frontal assault
is seldom attempted,
for fear you look into the eyes,
be overcome by a hypnotic bliss,
then begin walking toward the jaws
on your own accord.

During the hunt
you lure the dragon from the lair
with a single hunter, seeming to attack,
then retreat, the dragon pursuing.

Fellow hunters then ambush
and slash at the dragon from the
sides.

Waiting in a earthen pit
dug along a path, hidden
with branches and grass,
gives you the soft belly.
After piercing the flesh
avoid the spewing blood
and poison.

A lump of pitch, fat, and hair
tossed into the mouth of a dragon
causes an explosive reaction
in its gaseous stomach.
Safe cover must be reached
before it has time to digest.

4.

Their small, flaccid bodies
were nearly always overlooked
during the fever of the hunt;
hiding in shadows with eyes
like moonlight.
They are defenseless
until you look into
their young eyes. You will feel
like you are waking from a dream,
seeing yourself in a warped mirror,
hearing a riddle both
common and strange.

Then they follow you
into your darkest room.
With one talon they hold tight
a wooden beam, with the other
they hand you the rope.


5.

This dragon lived deep in the forest,
in a black and silent valley,
a cool place where the vegetation
grew waist high, wet, and tender.
During the hunt, charred bones of cattle
and loose bark on the trees were easy signs.

Dragons hide nothing but gold.

As women throw earthsmoke and rue into the fire,
and children gather enough wood for three days,
the men divide the hoard of their prey,
bravely re-telling its earlier strength.

Dragons fight wildly for their lives.

When a dragon has died legend says you must wait
seven days before removing the ruby cabochon
rooted in the forehead; the festival week.

Until then, an amputee from a recent hunt
will be recognized for his courage
when he is given the horns and teeth.

No one will be blamed.

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