The Secret Stead is the pen name of a UK-based writer and
 |
| << previous page | Contents | next page >> |
1 — once upon a time of the ancient wood,
once down and there a deep dark forest stood,
down a forest path, down a secret glen,
down where earth was far from the eyes of men,
back when legends of iron and fire
were forged on anvils of human desire,
when battles of blood scorched the tired earth
and man killed man for less than their worth,
wild animals knew not and cared not
for the sound or reason of men's wild fury,
down a forest path, down a secret glen,
down they would go far from the eyes of men,
back when legends of the dragon and knight
were no longer told to children at night
2 — once upon a time of the ancient wood,
once down and a walled city of men stood,
down a stone lane, down an open glen,
down where earth was the dominion of men,
there was a sad man of whom much made jest,
for he knew indeed dragons did exist
down a forest path, down a secret glen,
the dragon was far from the eyes of men,
they laughed at this man and called him a fool,
but he stayed silent and knew what to do:
down a forest path, down a secret glen,
he would go down far from the eyes of men,
to find dragons of legend in his quest
and steal the gold of the mighty beast
3 — once upon a time of the ancient wood,
once down and there a deep dark forest stood,
down a forest path, down a secret glen,
a dragon lived far from the eyes of men,
back when he was a creature of fire,
he remembered his youth and desire,
his scales would shine the deepest of blue,
when the sun shone and in the air he flew,
he had tired of the knights who would come
to search for fair ladies held in ransom,
the dragon was gentle and knew not one,
he just loved to sit out in the warm sun,
he welcomed the time when there were no more
gallant knights bothering him at his door
4 — all the other dragons had retreated,
for he was the only one left unseated,
he never fought but only entreated
the men of old with rage undefeated,
they would not listen and bothered him so
so he moved down to the forest below,
where a secret cave of his father's stood,
once upon a time of the ancient wood,
with the wild animals now he lived
hearing the roar of men as they breathed,
he spent the days reciting poetry,
praying for the end of man's fallacy,
dragon of ancient legend so was he,
his breath just a fiery sigh to be
5 — down a forest path, down a secret glen,
down where earth was far from the eyes of men,
in the cave of his father he now slept,
thinking of his bygone days he now wept,
wept for legends of iron and fire,
now forged on anvils of human desire,
for battles of blood scorched the tired earth,
now man killing man for less than their worth,
wild animals who cared not would tell
of the sounding knell of men as they fell,
when down to his path to a secret glen,
down they would come far from the eyes of men,
dragon of peaceful legend so was he,
his breath just a fiery sigh to see
6 — once upon a time of the ancient wood,
once down and a walled city of men stood,
down a stone lane, down an open glen,
down where earth was the dominion of men,
the sad man who dreamed of dragons and gold,
had all his earthly possessions now sold,
for he was set to go on his journey
to find the blue dragon he knew to be,
city folk laughed at him, thought him a fool,
but he stayed silent and knew what to do,
down a forest path, down a secret glen,
he would go down far from the eyes of men,
dragon of ancient legend he would find,
with stealing the creature's treasure in mind
7 — the man had been told of a cave of old,
where lost travellers in the dark forest
had heard a voice reciting songs untold,
said to be of that which did not exist,
but the man knew the deep dark forest well,
and knew of the path to the secret glen,
for he did walk far from the eyes of men,
who laughed and made fun of his perception,
he cared neither for battle or glory,
money was the hero in his story,
so he packed up and left the walled city,
knew the path that led to his destiny,
dragon of ancient legend he would see,
and steal his treasure with dexterity
8 — so the man did now travel night and day,
through the deep dark forest he made his way,
searching for the blue dragon's cave of old,
to trick the poor creature out of his gold,
the wild animals moved out of the way
and scurried to warn the dragon of him,
but the clever man merely followed them,
they had shown him the way unwittingly,
he cared neither for battle or glory,
money was the hero in his story,
so follow he did as they ran away,
knew this path would lead to his destiny,
dragon of ancient legend he would see,
and steal his treasure with dexterity
9 — the dragon in his cave knew not of him,
did not even realise his coming,
until the man's footsteps were upon him,
and he looked down with a curious frown,
he did not speak at first, contemplating,
wondering what this son of man did want,
for he sensed that this was a cunning stunt,
rose slowly to his feet, saying nothing,
while the frightened man looked up at him,
the blue dragon yawned with sad eyes of woe,
men had not changed much from the look of him,
still looking for things they would never know,
oh, how he wished time when there were no more
gallant knights bothering him at his door
10 — the dragon opened his mouth of sharp teeth,
stretched out his talons and scratched at the earth,
he could smell the scent of the little thief,
his little mind calculating his worth,
what do you want oh, little man of men,
for down you have come to my secret glen,
down a quiet forest path so hidden,
down where I am far from the eyes of men?
is it gold you seek of which legend speaks,
for I have no damsels for you to save,
which I have never kept in my own cave,
or is it mere company that brings you?
dragon of ancient legend looked so blue,
wished this little son of man to now go
 |
 |
11 — the man who believed that dragons exist,
wondered now why he was on this quest,
what was he doing in this dark forest?
for the story in his mind was not true
of knights fighting a ruthless beast of blue,
this was a sad dragon of legend old,
and the man was not as he thought so bold,
how could he now steal this creature's gold?
the man who knew of sadness just as well,
saw here a creature trying to dwell,
down a forest path, down a secret glen,
down where he was far from the eyes of men,
so to the dragon he did give a bow,
the changed man took his leave, sadder now
Published 17 April, 2026
