Tears of the Dragon

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Human written on 8/11/2025 for Tears of the Dragon Poetry Contest sponsored by Robert James Liguori

Like a dragon, my armor consists of scales.
My frozen, unfeeling, reptilian heart 
is harder than a bed of corroded nails.
I'm invincible to any sword or dart.
You will never hear my moans or plaintive wails,
even if inside I would be torn apart. 
As decades are stacked on top of many years,
you still won't see this dragon shedding tears.

Do you think inside lives a human being,
and that remnants of a broken heart remain?
Or is it just a monster that you're seeing,
never feeling, but always inflicting, pain?
Would tears for the imprisoned beast be freeing,
falling down in a teeming, torrential rain?
Do the tears of the dragon remain inside,
or do they crash as you watch the ocean tide?

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Sara Etgen-Baker

Date: 8/12/2025 4:35:00 PM

compelling and engaging read, David. In Chinese culture, dragons are protectors and (as I'm told) shed tears when they can no longer do so...best wishes with the contest, Sara

David Crandall
Date: 8/12/2025 7:38:00 PM

Thanks, Sara! That is interesting. It makes sense, because I have heard that the year of the dragon is the preferred birth year.

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 8/11/2025 7:13:00 PM

A very strong write! Well done, David!

David Crandall
Date: 8/11/2025 8:03:00 PM

That's great to hear Kim!