Susie Maguire, a member of Scottish PEN, is author of short story collections 'The Short Hello' and 'Furthermore', and editor of the anthology 'Little Black Dress'. Over twenty of her stories have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and Radio Scotland, and her first poetry collection 'How To Hug' will be published in December 09, by Mariscat. She lives in Edinburgh. 'The Hero' is to be published in 'How to Hug and other poems' in a pamphlet by Mariscat, in December 09 – editor Hamish Whyte.
The hero
my hero talks with dragons
sits right down with them
in their musty hidden caves
toasting marshmallows
on their fiery breath
what do you talk about
i ask him, softly,
health and safety tips,
quick barbecue recipes,
the downsides of arson?
well, life with claws
and without, he replies
scales and skin
tails and wings versus
opposable thumbs
what else, i ask,
hoping for stories of magic
combat, treasure hoards,
enchantment, transformation,
tell me, please, what else?
oh, he smiles, well,
dragonish issues, mainly,
hoarding, swooping, terrorising
the natives, guilt, the usual
relationship problems
are they lonely, then
i ask, like me, and he nods
just as much as anyone can be,
desperately seeking soulmates,
jealousy, anger, loss, depression
and do you heal them
i whisper, when you go to them
do you bind up their wounds
and hold their paws until
they cry, until they feel better?
i try, he says, i can only try
in the firelight his scars, the ones
i made myself, tugging him here
under my own green wing
look deep, ragged, painful
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