Poem: "The Island Dragons"
This poem came out of the March 4, 2014 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired and sponsored by Anthony & Shirley Barrette. You can read more about Komodo dragons online.
The Island Dragons
On a chain of islands in Indonesia,
there are dragons.
Some people say that
they are just giant lizards,
but look --
they have the armored hide,
the powerful sweeping tail,
the razor teeth and claws,
the long forked tongue,
the vicious temper.
They have the poisonous blood
and the toxic bite too,
mysterious and potent.
They live in blasted land --
barren fields, stunted forests,
smouldering volcanic wastes.
They grow larger than a man.
You can say that dragons
only exist in fairytales,
but the lords of Komodo
just tilt their gilded eyes
and give a hissing laugh.
To them you are only food.