I'd paint the portrait

    of a dragon.

 

To do a proper job

I'd borrow colours

    from the world.

 

For his back I'd

need a mountain range,

    all misty-blue.

 

For spikes I'd use

dark fir trees pointing

    to the sky.

 

For overlapping scales

I'd squeeze dye from

    bright anemones.

 

I'd gild his claws

like shining swords

    with starlight.

 

His tail would be

a river, silver

    in the sun.

 

For his head, the

secret green of forests

    and deep seas.

 

And his eyes would

glow like embers in

    a tinker's fire.

 

But I'd keep the best

till last.  For his

    hot breath

 

I'd use all reds and

yellows - crocus, saffron,

    peony, poppy,

 

geranium, cyclamen, rose -

and fierce orange flames

    from a marigold.

 

(First published in 'Dragon Poems', OUP 1991)

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