tara caribou
poetry & short story author – artist & nature lover
Hatch
tiny dragon sits and waits patiently biding her time
curled up within her safe shell of blue with dark uneven spots she rests not in a nest of twigs and leaves or pebbles and mud but instead upon my tongue
sometimes I roll her around my mouth (gently, gently, never crushing)
she is smooth and a little sweet, a little bitter
she waits
I wait
there are times I feel her stretch her damp wings almost ready to fly but then she curls up cramped and snug again then closes her eye
moments draw near and pass me by when I desire to break her shell upon the ridged roof of my mouth
there, just there. and inhale deeply before puffing out forcefully
tail over beak over feet
tumbling at first she’d fly or fall but at least she would be out amongst the clouds
instead she’s waiting and waiting and dreaming of flying while great big drops of sadness roll down my cheeks
my feet rooted in a salty puddle of my own making and design
be brave, wake up and fly
but she’s curled up tightly ever patiently
somehow, she swears, she’ll know when it’s finally to be her time
(yet I can see the future – I haven’t the heart to tell her there are no more branches left to nest upon
no leaves to gather
no gentle embrace of the spreading oak, no
for they were cut down some twelve years ago
gathered, stacked and dried for another winter’s fire by careless, unfeeling hands)
I wonder if she ever wonders why I’m always crying
tara caribou | ©2020
22 Comments on “Hatch”
tara caribou 
Beautifully written! Love the dragon imagery 🙂
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Thanks!
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nice post…
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Ooooh lovely!! Your versatility is impressive!!!
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Oh! Thank you, Nathan! I truly appreciate that.
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May I let my thoughts wander? For the image is unique.
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I love the dragon and I so want to see it fly.
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Thanks!
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I felt your words – as if a modern fairytale – well done by you.
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Thank you Eric. Wow… yeah.. That’s a great description… I love it!
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A masterful piece, Tara 🙂
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Thanks Chris! It was a fun, albeit interesting, write.
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Very beautiful indeed ❤
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I love it!
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Thanks Cassa 😌
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The ending is a surprise, and it is sad. Hopefully, we humans will one day return to nature to nourish and honor her life-giving powers. Maybe one day, it will be safe for dragons to take flight and your tears will dry.
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Good work👏🏻
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Thank you
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Always welcome Tara
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Beautiful writing Tara
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Thank you Jude ☺️
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A deep pleasure 🌼
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