Battling The Dragon

  • In memory of my friend, “piano man” Frank Weiss, 1950 – 2005 ALERT: This poem might prove alarming to some.

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    This is presented in fairy tale form, but this is not fantasy. This is based on a true story, no happy ending. A tale of woe, and a tale of warning. The tale of Sir Frank, the musical wizard, and the dragon he was fated to battle for seven (7) years. Sir Frank fought bravely, and fully accepted that this battle was his responsibility. This tale is not told lightly, but with genuine sadness, and enduring love.
     

    Battling The Dragon

    ~

    he had such a great laugh
    and talent 100 fold

    he was a keyboard wizard
    who conjured hard won magic
    on a daily basis
    riding persistent sentry
    over his mighty sleeping dragon
    keeping it at bay
    protecting himself and loved ones
    from its ravaging fire

    this dragon had held him captive
    for a number of years
    having overtaken him one day
    in a careless moment of weakness
    when this wizard had been foolish
    and let down his guard

    but the brave wizard
    Sir Frank as he was known
    had again found his courage
    and fought back the dragon
    driving it into submission
    difficult and tentative as it was

    sadly though
    the cunning dragon
    would not be held down
    and in a moment
    when the wizard’s vigilence
    had sadly waned
    the dragon pulled Sir Frank
    once more under his evil spell

    on this fateful day
    the wizard’s infectious laughter
    had become infected lunacy
    his beautiful dreams
    had again become dread

    as the nightmares returned
    the dragon imprisoned the wizard
    in its dark and haunted lair

    it was reported
    Sir Frank’s rants
    could be clearly heard
    above the bustle
    of the homeward privileged
    that passed unaware
    of the wizard’s dilemma

    the battle had raged
    coarse rants and ramblings
    rose from the rancid shadows
    until in final desperation
    fetid hands lit the fateful fire
    that brought to boil
    the white magic potion
    of the wizard’s deliverance

    he’d slipped the cold steel
    into the froth of sweet promise
    still warm with transformation
    and drew the white magic potion
    into the glassen’d vessel
    of ultimate escape

    tied and tapped into submission
    distraught from battle
    this magical musical wizard
    impaled his demons
    with the dragon’s dagger
    hoping the potion
    would drive back the dragon
    saving himself yet again

    but not this time
    no deliverance this time
    the dragon claimed the wizard
    as silver-white dreams
    carried him away

    the wizard was gone
    gone on his white horse
    for his final ride
    to the realm of no return

    ~ ~ ~

    rob kistner © 2019

  • 13 thoughts on “Battling The Dragon”

      1. Thank you Michael. It is so frustrating when you want to make the pain stop, but all you can do your best… Frank lost his way when trying to recuperate from multiple back surgeries, to fix a broken back, suffered in a fall from a stage.

    1. Rob – I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend. We don’t get to chose our dragon but we can chose how we fight it or accept it. Your love and admiration for him comes through in your poem, as well as his struggle and tragic end.

    2. it is amazing how a drug (drugs) have taken over our country, our families…this used to be confined to the slums of large cities..now it is in small towns and sitting next to national monuments….i have no words for it anymore…just to step around it or over it and pray it does not infect anyone i love…bkm

      1. It is even among those working in the offices of businesses and governments Barbara. “Light dosing” heroine or cocaine is more commonplace among professionals than you would believe – even during working hours.

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