THE SLEEPING DRAGON

The moment I saw
They were mining its mountain-
Don’t wake the sleeping dragon,
I thought.

When I realized
They were stealing its possessions-
Don’t wake the sleeping dragon,
I thought.

I recall noticing
All their houses made of wood-
Don’t wake the sleeping dragon,
I thought.

I’ve heard rumblings:
“We must strike first,
Before it kills us all!”
It’s tempting to laugh, but

Just now I caught one
Trying to pry a dazzling scale
From its living, breathing belly.
These critters are a nuisance!

I can sleep no longer.
I let the rage flow through me,
A river of lava.
It is time to spread my wings…