Poem: "Hatching into the Future"
Here is the linkback perk for the April 1, 2014 Poetry Fishbowl. If you link to the fishbowl, make a comment and include the URL to reveal a verse of this poem. If you link on different services, you can get multiple verses.
This poem was inspired by prompts and discussion after the March 4, 2014 fishbowl. It was prompted by Dreamwidth users Rosieknight and Redsixwing. It also fills the "FREE SPACE: war" square in my 11-26-13 card for the Origfic Bingo fest.
There are 14 of 20 verses posted. Linkers include: janetmiles, sylvaine57, DW user Jjhunter, wyld_dandelyon, helgatwb,
"Hatching into the Future"
The dragon wakes
when one of the cocoons
against her flank begins to rock.
Quickly she noses the others
out of the way so that
they will not be disturbed.
She nuzzles the cocoon,
noting how its protective shell
has turned brittle now,
ready to break away
from the elven knight within.
The dragon lifts her head
just long enough to summon attendants
who will provide necessary support.
Then she rolls the cocoon
between her forepaws
and lowers her jaw atop it,
humming encouragement.
It rocks harder, wobbling
back and forth, and then
the pearly shell breaks open.
The dragon blows away
the glistening fragments
from the dazed knight
and licks him clean.
Strands of damp silver hair
cling to the sides of his face,
his gray eyes hazy and confused.
This is what the war has left of him,
a hero from the last century
so ravaged by what he had done
to protect his people
that he needed her help
to forget the scars
that battle made on his mind.
It's a hard thing,
hatching into the future,
but better than struggling
under the weight of bitter memories.
The dragon helps him to his feet,
and he rises clumsily,
clinging to her golden muzzle
for support as he stands.
The attendants step forward
with soft, simple clothes
to help him get dressed.
Behind them, a man and a woman
stand in the doorway, waiting
to take charge of the awakened knight.
They are not soldiers or healers,
just ordinary elves who have
benefited in some way
from the soldiers' work
and wish to show their gratitude
by taking care of a veteran.
[To be continued ...]
This poem was inspired by prompts and discussion after the March 4, 2014 fishbowl. It was prompted by Dreamwidth users Rosieknight and Redsixwing. It also fills the "FREE SPACE: war" square in my 11-26-13 card for the Origfic Bingo fest.
There are 14 of 20 verses posted. Linkers include: janetmiles, sylvaine57, DW user Jjhunter, wyld_dandelyon, helgatwb,
"Hatching into the Future"
The dragon wakes
when one of the cocoons
against her flank begins to rock.
Quickly she noses the others
out of the way so that
they will not be disturbed.
She nuzzles the cocoon,
noting how its protective shell
has turned brittle now,
ready to break away
from the elven knight within.
The dragon lifts her head
just long enough to summon attendants
who will provide necessary support.
Then she rolls the cocoon
between her forepaws
and lowers her jaw atop it,
humming encouragement.
It rocks harder, wobbling
back and forth, and then
the pearly shell breaks open.
The dragon blows away
the glistening fragments
from the dazed knight
and licks him clean.
Strands of damp silver hair
cling to the sides of his face,
his gray eyes hazy and confused.
This is what the war has left of him,
a hero from the last century
so ravaged by what he had done
to protect his people
that he needed her help
to forget the scars
that battle made on his mind.
It's a hard thing,
hatching into the future,
but better than struggling
under the weight of bitter memories.
The dragon helps him to his feet,
and he rises clumsily,
clinging to her golden muzzle
for support as he stands.
The attendants step forward
with soft, simple clothes
to help him get dressed.
Behind them, a man and a woman
stand in the doorway, waiting
to take charge of the awakened knight.
They are not soldiers or healers,
just ordinary elves who have
benefited in some way
from the soldiers' work
and wish to show their gratitude
by taking care of a veteran.
[To be continued ...]