Rescued

The story is told

Of a village of old

Inhabited by a king and his realm.

The town was at peace,

 Yet fear did increase

For nearby a fierce dragon would roam.

"To this terrible creature,"

 Folks asked the good teacher,

"What offering to subdue should we give?"

"A goat or a lamb,

A cow or a ram

Will suffice so the people can live.

But if, after time,

 Such gift is not fine,

A person must go in its place ~

Kind or wild,

Noble or child ~

In exchange for the fierce dragon's grace."

So day after day

The offering was made,

A lamb was fed to the beast.

Yet as time progressed,

The dragon distressed

And his hunger only increased.

A goat, then sow,

And finally a cow

Was given in hopes to subdue.

But naught could avail

The beast to repel,

A person would have to do.

The lot was cast

 And as time passed

It fell to one most fair.

The king's own daughter

The beast would slaughter,

So the kingdom the dragon would spare.

This sorrowed the king.

 He tried everything

To spare the princess from death.

No silver or gold,

Nor treasures he sold

Could deliver his daughter's last breath.

So, one fateful day,

 A crowed made their way

To the outskirts of the town.

Dressed as a bride

The princess, beautified,

Was offered to preserve royal crown.

***

With surge of valor

 He donned his armor

And mounted noble his steed.

With confidence,

Through forest dense,

He hastened with all speed.

   He soon caught glimpse,

Yet never winced

At the sight of the dragon fierce.

His courage rose

Without repose~

Such knight as he was scarce.

Then, just before

 That dragon roared

To lunge at princess fair,

No thought for his life,

 The knight rushed in to fight,

The princess' life for to spare.

He fought so bravely,

Never wavering,

Waged war with the savage beast.

Then, finally,

 In victory,

He won and the dragon ceased. 

"What shall I give thee

 For this noble deed?"

The king, astonished, asked. 

"No gift I require,

But this I desire

That all become Christians at last."

***

Such fable is legend,

 Most likely is fiction,

Yet I couldn't help but apply ~

For deep in my spirit,

It seems I can hear it,

As history profoundly replies.

There once was a dragon

That roamed near my town

And haunted me day after day.

In vain was the offering

 Of lambs for slaughtering~

That dragon demanded more pay.

You see, he was Satan,

 An angry beast fearsome,

My life he sought to destroy.

No jewels or silver,

 Nor wealthiest river

Could rescue my soul from his ploy.

Dressed as a bride

I trembled and cried

And followed the road to my death.

This my only choice,

 And that with great force,

To be scorched by the dragon's hot breath.

But, lo! Ere the dragon

 Had lunged at this pagan

A Knight appeared on the scene!

Not just a knight,

 But Prince of great light,

Jesus, the King of all kings!

He fought with great power

Throughout the darkest hour

And conquered sin and the grave.

He took Hell's black key

And won victory!

Yes, this maiden He saved.

Now all that He asks

 Is that I would rest

In His omnipotent grace,

And let my heart sing

 In praise to my King

While humbly seeking His face.

Copyright © Elisabeth Linzey 2013