Lonely Dragons

Lonely Dragons The old man hunts his pleasure still, A hungry ghost in faded skin. He chased the warmth from hill to hill, And left his kingdom cold within. His crown is rust, his throne is dust, His concubines were brief and cheap. He gave his blood no more than lust, And now he reaps what he did reap. And she—the matriarch of stone— She took the boy when no one watched. Her hollow heart, her brittle bone, Consumed the child she should have watched. She had no love, she had no grace, The world had turned its back on her. So she devoured what she could taste, And made the innocent concur. They wear their masks, they play their roles, They are the kings of broken souls. And we, the children, bear the weight, Of every lie, of every fate. Lonely dragons breathing fire, Burning everything they see. Lonely dragons, cruel and tired, Feeding on the family tree. They tear the branches, scorch the leaves, And leave the roots to rot and grieve. Lonely dragons—can't you see? You are the plague you could not be. The uncle—black hole in the room— He sucks the air from every lung. A narcissist who thrives on doom, Whose every word is poison tongue. He feeds on tears, he drinks despair, He twists the truth to suit his game. And those who fall into his snare Are never, ever quite the same. And father—distant, cold, and vain— He never had the time to see. His children were a passing strain, A footnote in his vanity. He loved himself, he loved his name, He loved the mirror's sweet reply. But when we called, he never came— He let his own reflection lie. They wear their crowns, they tell their lies, They watch us wither as we die. And still we search for someone true— But all we find is more of you. Lonely dragons breathing fire, Burning everything they see. Lonely dragons, cruel and tired, Feeding on the family tree. They tear the branches, scorch the leaves, And leave the roots to rot and grieve. Lonely dragons—can't you see? You are the plague you could not be. And now I see them as they are— Not monsters, but a broken breed. Each one a lonely, fading star, Each one a dragon in their need. They hurt because they were once hurt, They lie because they were deceived. They built this castle out of dirt, And now they mourn what they believed. Lonely dragons, hear my voice— I will not be your sacrifice. I will not make your evil choice, I will not pay your bitter price. You are the fire, I am the rain, You are the wound, I am the pain— But I will rise above your flame, And never be the same. Never the same. Lonely dragons... lonely dragons... I am not your dragon anymore...