If I didn't have such a fickle imagination I could probably finish a single book. But without it being such I'd probably get bored. Below are a few scribbles from a book titled "Dragon Hunting" that I've been working on for a couple of years with a little help from my Squire who is currently 9 years old and unaware of their contribution to the tales. My Squire is somewhat squeamish about dragons but the mischievous temptation I have to bring up discussions of them is uncontrollable. DRAGON HUNTING We parked our rusty wagon Tied our horses to a tree Grasped our dragon sticks in hand And headed toward the sea The day was right for dragon hunting For my faithful squire and me "I tell you there be dragons here Be careful where you pass Watch for dragon prints And brown burnt blades of grass They're very sneaky creatures And their tails move very fast" My squire kept wide open eyes Never encountered a dragon before I said, "you'll know when you see fish bones Lined along the sandy shore And wood pieces oddly shaped They chew on when they get bored" A slow walk along the water's edge We'd only stop to wet our thirst Keeping eyes to the left and right Watching for the worst For if a dragon crept up behind us Our hearts would have burst We stood at the edge of the water Silence but for the rippling tide I said, "dragons can't float forever They return for a place to hide So my dear squire beware Stay closely at my side" My squire trembling in knees Claimed the sky was turning red I said, "that's the time we watch close For they'll be searching for a bed They'll swoop in along the water top Just above our head" "I don't know if I can handle this" My squire began to plea "Let's go home where it's safe And leave the dragons to the sea The sky is turning far too red And the waters are scaring me" I gritted my teeth inside my head Not to let disappointment loose "So, I see you want to give up, aye? You're ready to make a truce OK then, quick finish up For dragons love grape juice" DRAGON TALES It was not so early morning The air was crispy cold I put on my long black coat Flipped the collar up to my nose So no one could see my breath As I trudged through the snow I met up with my squire At the town's northern gate And said let's hit the tavern Before it gets too late Before the town's folk fill it up And service we'll have to wait My squire agreed nodding twice And so we did move on On into Drupple's Tavern To lay some money down For something to warm us up And spread gossip around Drupple was a funny sort With a big chin and no eyes He said some dragon burned them out When he was watching the skies It made the town folk scared at times But we suspect it's lies We chose our table carefully One in the midst of talk To hear all the stories we could catch Where everyone would walk And maybe they'd catch a few from us That's if they have the luck I called out to Drupple "A double order please My squire and I need warming We'll be heading for South Seas And make each with a double shot For we're shivering in our knees" Our hands began to warm up Held over our steaming mugs Gossip began to linger round As well as passing jugs Stories out of the mouths of hunters Even warriors and thugs I said to my squire "Listen carefully with your ear It's here we'll learn the secrets Of when dragons are near And what treasures they hunt the most Are the ones that we hold dear" My squire has a memory Far better then mine And began to repeat the stories to me Each one at a time Each one I thirsted to hear As though it was a crime "I hear Laryn tell Of a dragon on the east shore Who sits up all day and night Guarding a special door" Then my squire tilted an ear And began to listen more "A secret door no one has entered For fear of the dragon's flare He said he thinks he knows Just what's hidden in there When someone's lost a part Inside is the other pair" I said, "Do tell me more Of the talk that lingers round I'll buy us another mug full And put an extra tip on down Just keep your ears pitched To every little sound" 'Marcus said he battled A dragon in his yard He said he was terrified But it wasn't really hard He said the dragon tried to steal his keys And his only deck of cards" I asked, "Why do you think dragons Like to hoard things in their den? I recall late one night Unable to find my pen Till a week had passed, I was on Rock Ridge And found it there again" Then my squire recalled something About a book that had been lost Valued and needing returning Or else one pays it's cost We suspect a dragon has it We are certain it must "Drupple, one more for the road We're taking a serious trip To hunt a thieving dragon Who we know is in for it Make them steaming hot With two extra shots of whip" DARING DRAGON Daring little dragon On the first flight of his life Never thought it would be so hard To balance his left and right Leveling his head he tried On take off he did run Over the top of a maple tree Keeping his eyes on the sun Daring little dragon Opened eyes faced on the ground With the sun laughing it said Next time .................... (Initial sentence letters read down)