"The Enchanter"

In days long gone - out of memory's reach
The Enchanter his acolytes did teach
He taught of powers and of fire
He taught of love and man's desire
He taught of pain and taught of greed
He taught of fear and taught of need.
And when he'd done with sharing all
a student asked about the fall.

Five thousand years and some ago
the dragons lived, for it is so
written in the books of lore..
in a time long gone before.

And man was growing in the land
becoming like the desert sand.
Wherever dragons had their home
man was fearful there to roam.

But as their number grew in count
man's strength and fearlessnes did mount.
Often men did they venture far
to kill a dragon - called it war.
Until the dragons knew the day
had come. No other way
but to put a fearful end
to the slaught'ring bands of men.

Then followed war which scorched the lands
and put a stop to slaught'ring bands.
And after all was said and done
man retreated - no battle won.
Few dragons in the world remained
with death and turmoil - what was gained?

Leaving with remaining kin
the dragons were not seen again.
For deep within the mountain caves
the dragons chanted over graves
and took on them the forms of men
that slaughter would not rise again.

Enchanters know that from that day
the fire's within: the enchanters say.
For if you have the power within
then you're born from Dragon kin.

~Kaza: 1996~