we are dragons

still tethered
to sheep

back in the day before
the dog made its eleventh
hour appearance
just ahead of the boar

back in the day when
our teeth were carefully
dulled, our snout
strapped –

our roars were shaped
only to follow.

we never scorched

never exercised our
wings

and above all

we never let out the dragon
fueling our dragon hearts
.
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