The Dragon on the Stairs

THE DRAGON ON THE STAIRS

(A poem story by Carl Fritz)

There once was a girl so fair and true
a precious child named Cindy Lou

No more than three, not less than two
with long blonde hair and eyes of blue

She woke one cold and misty morning
to find the day both dark and storming

And with the weather dark and dreary
Dismal gray and rather scary

She listened to the sheets of rain
gush and gurgle down the drains

While gusts of wind and hungry roars
shook the ceilings and the floors

And as she laid there all alone
hearing winter growl and groan

She waited for her mother's call
from down the stairs or in the hall

She wished her mom would come and get her
to watch TV and maybe let her

make herself something to eat
a sweet and tasty breakfast treat

but the house was dark and deep
as if the world was sound asleep

And as she tried to lie and linger
and count her blessings on her fingers

She heard a strange and eerie thing
skittering and slithering

creeping up the wooden stairs
a hissing sound, both soft and clear

A wispy whoosh, so mysterious
a spooky noise that sounded serious

And then a picture came to mind
The biggest, fiercest, scariest kind

It's a dragon, she thought with a start
He's coming to get me and steal my heart

And as she heard its crusty scales
rub against the wooden rails

with fiery eyes and pointed tail
and leather wings on which to sail

breathing fire in blazing puffs
shooting flames in ugly huffs

She closed her eyes and held her breath
That dragon scared her half to death

Then she heard its footsteps fall
slowly creeping down the hall

resounding with a shaking boom
on its way towards Cindy's room

Then it stopped outside her door
and breathed some fire a little more

Then with a big and fiery roar
that made her jump and shook the floor

The dragon rose and screamed with rage
like a tiger in a cage

And on her door, it beat its wings
howling, growling nasty things

Then with a gasp, her eyes went wide
as the dragon lurched inside

Cindy thought that it was over
and hid her head beneath the covers

She clenched her fists and held them tight
and called her mom with all her might

She rolled around. She squawked and squealed,
"I refuse to be a dragon's meal!"

Then she heard her mother say
in her special, loving way

"Cindy Lou, why are you screaming?
Can't you see I'm only cleaning?

Come on, we've got some things to do
No need for all this hullabaloo!

Cindy opened up her eyes
and saw at once to her surprise

No dragon waiting at the door,
but mommy smiling, nothing more

And in her hand was nothing meaner
than just a plain old vacuum cleaner

No scratchy scales or pointy teeth
No dragon's breath with blazing heat

Just mommy there with breakfast ready
waiting, standing, strong and steady

Then suddenly the stormy gloom
broke and sunlight filled the room

And laughing, leaping to her feet
Cindy smiled both long and sweet

thinking of her favorite treats
she bounded down the stairs to eat

while sparkling thoughts played on her mind
and dragons vanished far behind

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