Watching the dragon
            emerge from his cave
                        and stretch
 
in the morning sun
            as I had done
                        just now
 
after sleeping outside -
            not entering
                        where the dragon slept.
 
Perhaps fighting another day,
            but just now watching
                        him stretch, wings wide,
 
great eyes blinking,
            and a thousand jeweled scales
                        glittering in the sun, except
 
where one is missing -
            a weakness
                        for another day.
 
Today we stretch -
             first light brilliantly
                        bejeweling scales
 
and flaming my sword
            offered unseen to the sun, and beast,
                        and the morning we share.
 
Just now turning to go -
            my village, thankfully,
                        left unscathed for years.
                       
Perhaps someday I will return
            to finish what I
                         leave undone.
 
Perhaps another day,
            a cloudy day -
                        just now turning to go.