The Dragon Rules - March 19, 2024

on my finger a blue dragonfly alights

this sapphire needle with cellophane wings

newly born on a warm Sunday in February

how quickly it must learn the Dragon Rules:

fear anything bigger than you

          especially those dragons

          with two arms and two legs

find a pond or some waterway

          it’s the best place to eat and

          conquer a kingdom of insects

only land on the tips of things

those with a wide view

when you’ll need to fly for your life

learn the pecking order of eat or be eaten

          understand as soon as you can

that despite your grand title

your name is near

the bottom of the list