Musings of an Aging Dragon
Karin Eaton
The morning sun glows gold
warming my high stone ledge
where I see the dragonets at play
practicing their flight control
with fluid flaps, timed stalls
quick turns and graceful rolls
To my eyes, this is poetry in motion
the grace, the rhythm, the harmony
the pattern of shimmering wings
youthful energy on display
I have watched over these hatchlings
since they left the nest
taught them to fly
to test the winds
to navigate through the sky
There was a time, not long ago
when I would soar and swoop
amongst them, demonstrating aerial skills
of advance and retreat
plummeting in steep dives
breathing fire like an avenging angel
Now I sit warming my wings
like an old nursemaid whose
young charges are ready to
fly on adventures without me
Before they leave, I will glide with them
and do some gentle turns
but I can no longer enjoy
the exhilaration of spirited flight
wings powerfully lifted, body and tail
ruddering through gale force winds
In the twilight I’ll join the council of elders
where I will meditate on lore and wisdom
until it’s time to move on to the Otherworld
I’ll stay there a millennium or more
until I find my anima hatchling
we’ll merge, be twinned
breathe our fire together
then return to the Outerworld
reborn
Karin Eaton
Karin Eaton is a writer, traveler and student of Ancient Egypt. Since retirement as an Arts Manager in Toronto, Ontario, she is enjoying the tranquility of country living on Lake Scugog. When she is not indulging her love of travel, she spends her time experimenting with memoir, travel and poetry writing. She has won awards for her poetry and her work has been featured in a number of publications including Common Tread - online motorcycle magazine, the Persimmon Tree Short Takes, six Quillkeepers Press Anthologies, Dragon Dreams Anthology – Storm Dragon Publishing and in the Cosmic Daffodil Journal, Myth and Metaphor.