The Kite And The Night With The Dragons

by Duncan Jones

We’ve all heard the stories some true, others tall

Of fourth down conversions, great wins

Of maidens who wait on their handsomes to call

Of heroes who risk their own skins

All wonders no doubt, and each has a place

But sometimes a story’s untold

Because sometimes a story does not have a face

Or does not have a hero so bold

Or maybe one thinks that nobody’d believe

And not because any part is a lie

So they keep it secret just under their sleeve

Because maybe they’re just a bit shy

Well here is a story of just such a type

Of one who was nice but not proud

Passed from one to another without any hype

Who’d no mom, but a dad mean and loud

He looked to the sky, and wished he could drift

Never thought that such stories were true

And like so many others, just needed a lift

And read them at school, just like you

Well as it turns out, the path to his school

Passed a lake where the wind was just right

And one day he saw a man surfing no waves

But who flew through the air with a kite

So for week and a day he skipped lunch and saved up

Then straight to the toy store he ran

And he spent what he had on a beautiful kite

And then hurried to test his new plan

But despite his idea and delightful excitement

He walked home that night pretty down

Because though the kite flew and so very high

He disappointingly stayed on the ground

So back home to his house where he did his homework

All the while avoiding his dad

Then to bed, under covers, he remembered his mother

And he drifted to sleep again sad

The next day he rose, and took off for school

With his homework back home on the shelf

So he had to stay late and make up his work

And walked home once again, by himself

But sometimes bad days are bad for a good reason

Even if it’s not one we can see

And it was starting to be a good bad-weather season

And there was something caught up in a tree

It was the surfing man’s kite with no owner in sight

So he walked over and started to climb

And though rare, he smiled with a shine in his eyes

And was back on the ground in no time

As the night wind picked up he ran with his new prize

But at home he was met with a scowl

His dad was quite mad and who really knows why

The door slammed, the wind started to howl

Now there’s no need for details, I’ll spare you a bit

This story’s not one about grieving

What’s important to know is on that windy night

He decided that he would be leaving

So he stayed up and made up his mind and he waited

He planned out a plan of attack

Fast clouds were coming and thunder was drumming

And he bolted and didn’t look back

The night too had grown angry and who really knows why

And he ran to a field by the lake

But it wasn’t too long till his dad’s truck was heard

And afraid his hands started to shake

So he threw up the kite but the wind was too strong

And over and over he tried

But it yanked very hard and he couldn’t hold on

And the truck came along the lakeside

Now because of this kid, though many won’t hear it

This kite had a chance once again

And some things in the world have a life and a spirit

And it decided to help its new friend

So thankful it was to be out of the tree

And it called to some great other kinds

Who, just like the storms, they live in the wind

Who are out there but no one can find

This time in the air the kite flew and stayed there

For a moment the wind not so rough

Lights flashed in the field, a horn started to blare

At that instant enough was enough

The kite just took off like he’d hooked a shark

He was off of the ground and was flying

Somewhere a spark that was part of the dark

Perhaps from his hoping and trying

Up through the clouds and the thunder came close

And he thought that he glimpsed giant things

But wasn’t thunder at all and was still growing louder

And then briefly he saw giant wings

Higher over the clouds and he saw giant tails

One more gust and he saw a whole herd

His eyes were adjusting, he saw the black scales

So in awe he could not say a word

But between the surprise and the terror he smiled

And when so high some fired and screamed

And as odd as it was he felt wild without fear

In the moonlight their giant teeth gleamed

Then he made a mistake like so many with heights

He looked down, though barely a glance

And the night said “No, no!” The kite raced up higher

And the wind really started to dance

The kite jumped and skipped and he simply lost grip

Through the sky he started to tumble

Then again the loud thunder as a shadow raced under

And he reached for the deep roaring rumble

The falling slowed down, a long neck swooped up

And giant black wings opened wider

Back up over the clouds he sailed through the sky

On the back of the giant black glider

As he gathered his wits they really started to soar

Where they came from nobody can say

There had to be hundreds of them, maybe more

And that night they had all come to play

They’d disappear in the clouds and loose fire and glow

And more than once they dove and just fell

And when hidden they’d drift where the wind chose to go

And so happy he just had to yell

The girls all screamed back with their bright lightning shrieks

And the bulls roared again like the thunder

And their show made him smile till it it hurt in his cheeks

And below the whole neighborhood wondered

If anyone looked though they’d all disappear

Into the clouds they’d all fade

Like smoke in the wind, never been there at all

They’d be gone just like shadows in shade

Just a storm passing by, the neighborhood thought

Who on Earth would believe it was dragons

And when they landed, one hundred surrounding that truck

That kid’s dad moved quite fast to get back in

And no harm was done but the message quite clear

His dad turned as sweet as a mouse

Their new friend was done living sad and in fear

No more problems were had in that house

I’ve heard he still has a scale, that it always stays hot

Though I doubt that it’s ever been shown

Some might say it’s not true but can’t prove that it’s not

A reminder you’re never alone

So no matter what problems may come that you’re dodging

My friends, I hope you all know

Somewhere close by someone powerful’s watching

Now the wind’s picking up, I should go …