Juniper

In a town of olden
A name lost to time
Thrived a young warrior
Bred with a shine

Ruled to perfection
Unrolling his art
Yet stood an affliction
Deep in his heart

With a blade so fine
To cut grapes to wine
His feet to the road
And a need to goad

His pride was his fall
As he bet it all
On a swordsmans duel
For the right to rule

He fell to the blade
Of a man unknown
Seeking no aid
As to die on his own

So filled with hubris
He crawled away
And his tale amuses
Those to this very day

Reaching safe haven
Meeting a maven
His sin was simmered
And temperance delivered

With shame set a side
And losing all pride
The warrior moved on
Humming his song

To the hills he paced
And a dragon he faced
With scales of midnight
And a breath so bright

Flames danced
And wings sung
Swords clashed
And metal rung

Rock fell from above
As push came a shove
Destroying the beauty
The earth did give thee

The swordsman did rise
Through the flaming tide
Upon the beast's head he sat
And the blood went "splat!"

As his tools dove in
Doused in crimson
The beast was no more
Than motionless on the floor

Unbeknownst
This dragon took a home
Away from the people
He called his own

Tales ruptured and spread
Of the dragon now dead
And the hero lived on
Through wine and song