Folk dare not venture far, and not at night.
A dragon sailed the heavens to their woe.
Fair maidens could not sate its appetite
And by that time their ranks were running low.
Then came the standard proclamation,
‘Half my kingdom and my daughter’s hand
To any man who brings extermination
To the dragon ravaging our land.’
The kingdom lured, (poor princess, she was plain)
Drew valiant men, knights bold, unbeaten.
They left ‘midst cheers, were never seen again,
Tinned food all and thus meant to be eaten.
But herd boy Kaz from sheer necessity
To halt the depredation of his sheep,
Bravely, but neglecting chivalry,
Speared the monster in post-prandial sleep.
His reward was naturally denied.
He hadn’t worn the proper Knight attire.
By ‘any man’ a king’s son was implied.
His ‘bloody cheek’ inflamed the royal ire.
Suspicions grew when he just disappeared.
Officials knew the facts but dare not tell.
His ‘just’ reward was, as so many feared,
Five-star lodgings in a dungeon cell.