Draft in the author’s style. This poem was written for Poet in Wonderland to sit beside the author’s own readings, and is waiting for the author’s review. The commentary is a working draft too.
Twelve o'clock on Tuesday, in a cave of amber light,
A dragon set his table for a tea party that night.
There were cups of polished silver and a pot of steaming smoke,
And a plate of sugared sparkles that would tickle when you spoke.
He had invited a knight, a witch, and a talking frog named Fred,
And a princess who was tired of the crown upon her head.
They all sat down together with their nerves a little tight,
For the dragon was enormous, and his teeth were snowy white.
But he poured the tea with gentle claws, and he asked them, how's your day?
And the knight put down his sword, and the frog began to sway.
By the end of the evening, they were singing loud and long,
For the fiercest of the monsters may be lonely all along.
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Commentary
Dragons are supposed to be feared, but this one wants company. The poem invites a knight, a witch, a frog and a tired princess to tea and lets kindness settle a table full of nerves.
In “a cave of amber light,” a dragon sets “his table for a tea party.” There are “cups of polished silver,” “a pot of steaming smoke” and “a plate of sugared sparkles.” The guests are “a knight, a witch, and a talking frog named Fred,” and “a princess who was tired of the crown upon her head.”
They sit with “their nerves a little tight,” because “his teeth were snowy white.” But the dragon “poured the tea with gentle claws,” and “the knight put down his sword.” By evening they are singing, for “the fiercest of the monsters may be lonely all along.”