The Sleeping Dragon

Within us a sleeping dragon lies
The little bumps and kicks of life
Turns not his head, but sleeps on
Through slitted eyes he watches
And remembers all
Its eternal flame ever lit
A low burning ember
Is all he needs
He knows his strength
And when to use it
He sees the weaknesses of man
Knowing that everything is eventual
A black house resides within us all
A residence that holds deep
Our sins and shame
Wickedness and transgressions
All evils of which we try to contain
Humans being such needy creatures
Resolves thought strong
Are easily broken
Into the black house they go
To hide or gather weapons
Some weapons are made of nightmares
Never seeing the light of day
They lay in wait inside the darkness
Some make you feel they are needful things
They whisper in your ear
Always reminding you they are there
Behind the conscience of rational thought
Sealed within our hearts
Is a different season
Not one of God's four
But one that man created
Once released it's not easily contained
A cornered soul must call it forth
The sleeping dragon wakes
With eyes as red as blood
Reflecting the fire within
That grows and builds
It feeds on pain and misery
Hopelessness and despair
A soul of rage keeps it alive
Seething torment replaces logic
The monster of nightmares
Has been released
You are no longer the master
But the follower of its needs
It takes not on a life of its own
Your life is the one it wants
To consume all that is left of you
Even the purest at heart
Can be lost
There is no talisman to save you
Many mighty warriors have lost
The battle against the dragon
In its wake there are no survivors
For all it touches is destroyed
A trail of devastation and decay
Is what the dragon excretes
You see the world not as yourself
But as the dragon wants you to see it
You feel not the pain and torment
That fork tongue applied to others
You see not the hurt and misery that's caused
From a mind trapped with a demon
The dragon distorts your vision
Numbs your feelings
Lays ruin to all that is good
He makes your thirst unending
Deep into the pit of Hell
The dragon pulls you
Some go willingly into the depths
Their souls forever burning
Everything in their past destroyed
Nothing but darkness in their future
Left with an empty, bloodless present
For them, they had no choices left
A wreath of black is hung in memory
The battle rages on for others
Those that desire to have control again
But the dragon makes them weak
To take a stand and fight back
At best seems futile
The fire within yourself
Must be stronger than the dragons
The challenge is overwhelming
For the dragon loves a war of wills
He will not go silently into the night
You must possess the determination
The will buried deep within your soul
For your own survival
The dragon can be defeated
Sent back from whence it came
Always knowing that he will not be destroyed
His fire returned to embers
The eyes but slits of red
Waiting for the opportunity
To rear his evil head.

Dee © 2004/7/24