The slaying of the dragon

The armoured Prince was about to depart,
To gouge the fiery Dragon apart-

That had unabatingly slain the countrymen

And devoured them in his hideous den.

His name was Rishabh; he was very brave

For he was heading for the grave.

In his hand was the mighty sword of Lear

And he had not displayed any sign of fear.

He was seeking blessings from his elders:

Spoke his father (the king of Nortalders) -

"Courage, my boy! Courage! May God bless you."

And his arms around his son's neck he threw.

Others spoke too, blessing him, but with tears,

Never had they seen such courage, in their years.

With this the Prince set out on his horse, Ming,

Who ran faster than lightning!

They advanced with great speed,towards the den

In which their cursed enemy was hidden

The Prince alighted and in he went

While the horse returned to his master's tent.

"Come out, you filthy old savage!", he cried,

"How long in this den of yours will you hide?"

He received back a terrifying roar

And his heart was shaken from the core.

He tightened his grip on his mighty sword

And to the furious Dragon he lured;

The Dragon tried to grab him with his paw'

The Prince, dexterously, cut his claw.

The Dragon jumped and bellowed with rage

Like a lion left out from a cage.

He tried to crush the Prince under his foot

But the Prince, in his eyes, threw soot.

The Dragon took back, about four steps full,

And charged at the Prince like a mad bull.

The Prince drew aside and swung his weapon

Like an injured bird, down came the Dragon.

But the Dragon had not yet been killed

The Prince knew it for he was very skilled.

He cautiously walked towards the heart

But the Dragon woke up with a start!

The struggle continued for a long time

If described it may become a hymn.

I shall try to be as brief as I can

And tell you about the Dragon and the Man.

The Dragon's injury was an Achille's heel

And in the small chances which he could steal,

He would swing his sword on the Dragon

Who would bellow like a blasting cannon.

The Prince was as tired as the Dragon

So once and for all he swung his weapon

And chopped off the horrible dragon's head
Which men's flesh and blood had, for so long, fed.

The fight was over; the Dragon dead.

The Prince carried with him the creature's head.

In his kingdom,he was welcomed heartily-

His father said "You have done it smartly!'

Little more remains to be told to you

But you must believe it's all true.

Rishabh (remember his name) was crowned

And ever after, he kept his kingdom well and sound.

                                                            -- R. Ranjan

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