once aloft a bright blue sky

once aloft a bright blue sky
birds in pairs and flocks did fly
over mountains, hills, and trees
through the clouds adrift the breeze

then an eerie sound was heard
one to startle the strongest bird
distant thundered the beating wings
of a dragon with its pillagings

quickly hiding everywhere
feathers swiftly fogged the air
‘til the dragon stopped and searched
for treasures from where he was perched

the slope whereon the dragon peered
and where with greedy eyes he leered
was near the home of a Good Blue Bird
who paused and listened, watched and heard

and when He knew the time had come
the Bird took flight into the Sun
the dragon jeered and roared and lurched
but wouldn’t leave from where he perched

angry was the dragon when
the Bird refused to fear him then
and so he shot his flames about
the dancing Bird beyond his snout

the Blue Bird turned and dove at last
into the raging dragon’s blast
and down around its feet He flew
pecking at its ankles too

the angry dragon’s temper checked
he stomped and stamped at the Bird which pecked
but all too much for down he slipped
from where his claws unstable gripped

into the river down below
descended Bird and Bird’s old foe
but out from midst the dusty haze
came Blue Bird into bright Sun rays

then as the dragon flowed downstream
the birds emerged with great esteem
while Blue Bird flew back to His nest,
ready for what else came next

and there He watches, vigilant,
the flock’s Appointed Armament
where, ever faithful, He will guard
the birds He loves with High regard.