Dragon

Firecracker red under Equator sun, lion’s mane bobbing, obscene tongue. Unseen, the serpent slips inside, small as a whisper. It curls around my heart, hoarding it like treasure. Fans warm embers of my pomegranate cells, wakes something deep inside the cave of my being. It slumbers and I am haunted by its dreams, carry a sketchbook at school and draw pictures of great winged beasts. Enormous eyes. Shimmering scales, miss out on playground games. Always a strange child, I am told I have a great imagination, but it isn’t hard recreating your own reflection. Sometimes it wakes, blazes lazily to life. A cherry tree in full blossom, through an acid lens becomes a majestic head; my inner self cartoon bright. My fire, even cold, ready to catch and burn.