.........The Century Call.......

The summons had been issued forth to dragons everywhere,
The time had come to gather at Great Father Dragon's lair.
This was the call that dragons knew came every hundred years,
When they must set aside their daily lives and join their peers.
Great Father Dragon sat upon his great white throne of power,
At the north end of his cavern lair, awaiting counsel hour.
The entrance to his royal den was guarded by the sons,
Of Dragon Maelstrom, they were fierce, all living beasts would shun.
Except this day when they'd permit the entry of their clans,
To give and hear the counsels made regarding future plans.


They all did come as so they must, no dragon could deny,
This gathering known as century call, to the low ones and the high.
As each did take their rightful place inside the cavern lair,
Their murmurs and their grumblings soon began to fill the air.
Great changes in the world of man were made, since last they met,
His fear is gone, His strength is strong, His power is a threat.
Surely something must be done if dragons were to thrive,
If not, then they'd have little chance, in man's world, to survive.
Soon counsel hour did arrive, the mighty creatures heard,
As Dragon Tannin cleared his throat, then spoke to him his word.


"Silence now, and all give heed, this counsel shall begin,
Heed our noble Father Dragon's words concerning men."
With that the dragons focused their attention on the king,
And listened with intent concern, to words he would then bring.
"O noble sons and daughters, I'm elated that you're here.
It's been too long since we've convened, I've missed you all, so dear.
Please make yourselves at ease and join the counsel when you can,
Today we must decide the fates, our relationship to man."
The mighty beasts then settled in and cooled their temperaments,
They knew the day would surely witness many arguments.


"In times long past, the men did flee," the Father Dragon said,
Their fear of us was justified, their mightiest warriors dead.
We all had felt that we would go unchallenged for all time,
And never know the pain of isolation in our mind.
But now, as we all know, the times, they truly have been changed,
Man's strength has grown at lighting speed, his courage rearranged.
It now is we that have to flee, when man's presence is at hand,
So now I call the counsel lords to speak regarding man."
Then Father Dragon slowly sat upon his throne to view,
The wisdom of the counsel lords and if their words were true.


Dragon Maelstrom, the mighty one, would be the first to rise,
The clans would always shudder when he gazed into their eyes.
The fiercest dragon of them all, they bowed in their respect,
And then with words of vengeful hate, to them he did direct.


"What's happened to my brethren here, have you all become as sheep?
Are you going to live your lives in fear, will you just sit back and weep?
If so, then I shall never mourn your deaths when man does kill,
And you shall never have the fame and glory that I will.
I say we fight till man is gone, no longer to be found,
And raze his cities, every one, till they're ashes on the ground.
Leave none to live, seek them all, it will be our only chance,
To live our lives as dragons should, to rule the great expanse.
I care my brethren for your lives, I do not wish to see,
Our mighty clans reduced to slaves, and to man, bow to our knee.
Now heed my words and when you cast your vote this very day,
Remember that our future hangs upon these words I say."


With that the mighty Maelstrom turned and bowed before his sire,
Then took his place among the rest, exhibiting his ire.
Many dragons did agree and cheered as dragons do,
By belching flames and rising on hind legs to show their view.
But soon did Dragon Tannin call for silence once again,
And asked if there were others who would speak regarding men.
For a time the lair was silent, it seemed no other would say more,
Then Tannin spoke a final time , if one would take the floor.
But then the silence was to end, the gentle footsteps heard,
A dragon, blue and young, appeared, and he would voice his word.


The Father Dragon smiled when he had seen the young blue's face,
For in the Father's heart this young one held a special place.
The young blue's name was Dragon Mist, though young, was very wise,
And as he spoke his truth was felt when looking in his eyes.
After Mist bowed to his king he turned and faced his peers,
And in like fashion , bows to them, his thoughts he volunteers.


"To all my noble clansmen, I do gladly say hello,
The gathering here has warmed my heart, I felt you all should know.
I take great pleasure being here, to join you once again,
To wisely plan our future paths, from our father's royal den."
The dragons nodded back to Mist and accorded him full heed,
With gentle voice, Mist spoke his words, they knew he'd not mislead.


"It's true and sad, these times we face have changed," Mist told the clan,
"In former years we had great power , dominating man.
We'd do our will and gave no thought, the terror we imposed,
By claws and fire, we'd strike at man, their lives we brought to close."
Happy murmurs filled the lair, 'twas fond memories of yore,
But the dragons soon would cease their grins, when Mist would speak once more.


"Now as you know, time changes all, from most high to the least,
And man has gained what once was solely owned by dragon beast.
He sails the skies on silver wings, a deadly fire he owns,
And now it's dragons that must flee, lest he char us to our bones.
We now must hide within our lairs or suffer painful hate,
Just like the words of Maelstrom, men do seek to end our fate."
As Mist looked on, the dragons' words of war did fill the room,
In perceiving it, he spoke again to calm the cavern lair.


"If I may be so bold, perhaps there is another way,
We might be wise to form a pact with man upon this day.
Make peace, I say, with man and let peace reign till time does end,
By doing so we may survive by making man our friend.
The words I've spoken now are done, 'tis time for my release,
But when the counsel vote is come, I beg you vote for peace."


Discontent began to fill the royal cavern lair,
The words of Mist did strike discord among the dragons there.
Their grumblings grew until it seemed their anger would compel,
A battle 'mongst themselves with outcomes no one could foretell.
Then Father Dragon rose and soon the dragons fell to knee,
"Silence," was his lone command, restoring harmony.
With that did Dragon Tannin once again bequest the room,
"If there are any others with more counsel, then resume."
The air was rife with tension, nostrils flared all through the cave,
Yet none would speak nor utter thoughts, the atmosphere was grave.


Then suddenly a blinding light burst forth and bathed the lair,
A noise like thunder shook the walls, and echoed through the air.
With power over all that is, the source became quite clear,
It was a man which caused these things, one dragons held as dear.
'Twas Merlin, stood before them, gazing sternly at the clan,
If ever could a dragon care, the dragons loved this man.
First he bowed before the king, then to the clans he turns,
His whited beard and eyes of gray accents a voice that burns.
He speaks in Latin to them, that they all may understand,
His words of wisdom issues forth, by wisdom he commands.


"My lords of counsel, I thee bid you listen to my word,
The pros and cons of your debates have carefully been heard.
The points brought forth by both sides surely justify a plan,
But one that's beneficial to all dragons, and to man.
Only then will dragons celebrate their jubilees with mirth,
And as in times of yore, again, live freely on this earth.
I now submit that you should vote as Mist encouraged so,
And bring forever to the world a friendship with your foe.
On doing so, then peace will reign, you'll sail the skies again,
Without the fear of dying from the mighty hands of men."


Then suddenly as Merlin had completed his last word,
He vanished as he came and in his place he left a bird.
A pure white dove surrounded by a bright and golden light,
It hovered there a moment then flew out into the night.
Then Father Dragon rose as white hot fire streamed from his throat,
To end the counsel meeting, time had come for counsel vote.
So Tannin beckoned to the clans, "Who among you vote for war?"
The blasts of flames he counted numbered three, there were no more.
Then Tannin asked, "Now who among you here do vote for peace?"
The cavern then was filled with blasts by all remaining beasts.


Great Father Dragon nodded and with counsel vote approved,
He ordered that all enmity with man now be removed.
Plans now will start for men to meet with leaders of the clan,
If wisdom rules, then dragons soon will be at peace with man.

...........R.K.Robinson Jr............