Once upon a dragon’s breath a beast was lulled to sleep
But in that secret dark cave there, that rest was not to keep.
Little did the town below realize the jeopardy
For they had lived those many years in peaceful harmony.

Perhaps it was the hunger that made him wide awake.
Maybe the dreams that dragons dream were more than he could take.
Regardless though, the great beast now had it in his head
With that rumbling in his stomach, nothing more than to be fed.

He arched his neck and looked about searching far and wide
From his emerald gleaming eyes twas nothing that could hide.
He flew into the village peering down into the houses,
Looking in he saw the children, the men and all their spouses.

That night he took a fatted cow, four pigs and a ewe.
And it was just a bite to him, something small to chew.
He flew down to the fields again and had himself a feast.
The terrified townspeople hid from the hungry beast.

Time went on, came the day, the livestock almost depleted,
The town had tried to slay him but the beast was not defeated.
They would have to outsmart the dragon, a danger that is true.
But when you don’t have the brawn, the brain will have to do.

And so the townspeople put themselves on an awfully strict diet.
The last recourse it seemed to them and so they had to try it.
They left off with all the sugar, the cakes and all the flans
And cooked only fresh vegetables in all their cooking pans.

They stopped with the all fats and instead ate only lean.
And fixed upon a plan that would make them less a good cuisine.
They knew that soon the dragon would be back looking for a meal
Looking  for someone just like them, with chunky like appeal.

Then when the dragon came by for a meal, his nostrils wisped of smoke.
Looking about at all the town, he cleared his throat and spoke.
“What is this?” the dragon roared “Listen here you skinny lot!”
And he stormed and fumed as he told them exactly what he thought.

“I can tell that all of you are hungrier than you were before.
And it looks to me like each has lost at least ten pounds or more.”
His face got redder and redder as he ranted and he raved and,
The veins popped out on his neck as he told them what he craved.

The doctor of the village timidly came into the square
And through his thick glass spectacles looked at the dragon there.
“Mr. Dragon Sir, I beg your pardon but if I might have a word,
Excuse me please but I’m not sure at all if you have heard….”

And the doctor told the dragon that all the town was sick
And being an amateur actor, he poured it on real thick.
“You see good sir, we’re scrawny. No one would taste too good.
Perhaps you should go elsewhere like a smarter dragon would. “

The dragon eyed the doctor. He did look not look too well.
His clothes hung on his body and he had a frightful smell.
One by one the villagers stepped up to help with the deception,
A plan to influence the dragon’s olfactory perception.

The dragon’s nose was delicate, well you can understand

He had like other dragon’s do, a giant odor gland.
He took a big step backward, as he was so repelled
By the way those skinny, ill looking village people smelled.

With a growl the beast took wing, he flew into the air
The smell was overpowering. Twas more than he could bear.
And the people of the village from their pockets took their hands
And lifted up the limburger cheese that had helped them with their plans.

Now every year just in the spring when blossoms start their bloom
They hang their hero limburger around in every room.
They celebrate with a parade the cheese that saved their lives
And grill it up in sandwiches with butter and some chives.

03/29/2005

Author's Note: Like they say, never underestimate the power of cheese!

Posted on 03/30/2005
Copyright © 2024 Mary Ellen Smith