"They Never Told Me"

He faced me

With his ruby scales and

Serpent neck

His fangs were bared

His claws ripped rock

Leather wings cracked the air

Smoke leaked from his mouth

He looked just like they'd told me.

“Come at me, then,” he hissed

But I faltered, still

They never told me

he could talk.

He snaked about like a thing tortured

And I swear his slit eyes were

full of tears

My hand was steady

I plunged my lance

My job, my duty.

They never told me he would plead

They never told me he would scream

They never told me he would bleed

They never told me.