"Dragon Rider" by Kenton Adler, First Place, 2015

Dragon Rider

by Kenton Adler

First Place, 2015

You doubtless can’t imagine
what it’s like to ride a dragon.
But I will illustrate, if you’ll abide.
First you make a dragon saddle
then set forth to best in battle
a serpent worth his salt for you to ride.

Next you have to find one,
if you ever hope to bind one.
They rarely ever stand and wait around.
You’ll wander to and fro,
searching high and searching low,
before the fabled beast is finally found.

It cannot be too small.
That just wouldn’t do at all.
It has to be ferocious for to count.
You’ll need to slip a bridle
‘round his head while he is idle.
That, you surely must before you mount.

Most of them breathe fire.
You don’t want to raise their ire.
So try to act quite casual and cool
as you sidle up beside one
with your sure intent to ride one.
And yes they’re rather tall, so take a stool.

Their scales are smooth but leathery.
Their wings are actually feathery,
like a birds. Their claws are long and sharp.
As you get much closer
you’ll see beneath the nose ‘re
whiskers like you’d find on common carp.

So throw your saddle up there,
but do it with  the most care.
Cinch the girth, but not too over tight.
Set your feet into the stirrups,
give a kick, some clicks, and chirrups.
Pull the reins to steer from left to right.

He’ll leap up off the ground,
flap his wings and circle round.
You’ll view the world from high above the clouds.
Feel the wind rush past your face
as he sets a dizzy pace,
swooping down to scatter startled crowds.

At first you may feel sickly,
but that should pass quite quickly.
Your confidence will bolster by the yard.
Until you realize,
as you dance across the skies,
dragon riding’s easy.  LANDING’S hard!