Sestina

The Unicorn and the Dragon

Picture this: a majestic valley scene

water cascading down the mountain,

Trees standing tall and proud.

A little pool has formed at the bottom

and there it stops to drink, gently

The horn barely brushes the water.

All would agree, this is now blessed water.

A hunter stops to take in the scene,

His bow, he lowers gently

He came from far over the mountain

He walked a long way to get to the bottom

He came to hunt but mercy makes him proud.

Those that are mystical are proud,

They have grace while drinking water.

What else can be found in this valley bottom?

Add a shining dragon to this scene

The gargantuan king of the mountain

And yet he treats the unicorn so gently,

Only through mutual respect does he treat gently

For they are both rare and proud

Sheltered from the world by the mountain

Protected by the threat of running water

A unique and tranquil scene,

Seen only by the hunter at the bottom.

For years they lived on this valley bottom

Living their lives gently

But now it is time for a change of scene

Because the hunter is proud.

He will tell of the blessed water,

The secret valley surrounded by mountain.

And soon they will not be safe with the mountain,

nor live in peace on the valley bottom.

People will come to take the water

They will not be treated gently.

For people live to destroy the proud,

And change the world to be their scene.

Protected long by the mountain, where they lived gently,

Gone is the majestic valley bottom, the former home of the proud.

Where the unicorn blessed the water, the dragon surveyed the scene.