The Dying Dragon

The Dying Dragon

There is an ancient axe-head
in our local museum
shaped
somewhat like a time-worn skull--
at least
that is what the other people saw.
I
saw a dying dragon:
wings curled protectively;
head
bent earthward.
It seems
hardly anyone
believes in dragons anymore.
The sophisticated mind
insists:
they never existed in the first place.
I
still believe
in dragons
even though I've never seen one.
People
still believe
in God
and no one has seen Him lately.
Is the seeing so important?
Is not the imagination
merely the stepping stone
to reality?
I can't buy a ticket
to Narnia or Pern
yet these places are often
more real
than Buffalo or Boston.
Sometimes
I wish
people believed
in the unbelievable
a bit more
and a little bit more often.
A world seen through eyes
less dusty and jaded
might just see
the dying dragon
instead of the skull shaped axe-head.