In a cave

There are many secrets

Waiting to be found

Hidden away for eternity

Until one brave enough

Risks life and limb

And ventures into the unknown.

In the cave lays a beast

A dragon to slay

Guarding fearsome its hoard

Of glittering gold

Jewels strewn at its feet

Like fallen stars.

Wings that make trees bow

Beneath their raging winds

Folded closely against

An iron scaled torso

A belly of withheld flames

Ready to leap forth on command.

Lonely are his days

In this subtle darkness

Where light is forbidden

With only the cursed gold

Forming an inescapable ocean

Drowning him in sorrows.

At last he lets go

Of all of the pain that bound him

In iron chains, unrelenting

Finally free unburdened

And bids the gold farewell

Finally seeing the light

At the end of the tunnel.