a long week

It has been a week of sleeplessness and tears as the passing of Gary has hit our community hard.

I wrote this today:

Dragons

For Gary:

“Dragons last forever but not so little boys” (Puff the Magic Dragon)

When you are young with eyes wide open

You see the dragon as exciting and fun

It fills the holes

And heals the hurts

But only temporarily

As you stand back in wonder and watch him streak across the sky.

He fills your days and you feel complete.

You grow older and the dragon’s tricks don’t seem like so much fun anymore.

But it still fills your wounds and makes you feel better.

You need him.

As the years go on, the dragon grows up as well- bigger, heavier, stronger.

The weight is on your shoulders.

Carrying your dragon becomes work.

Becomes your task.

Sometimes the weight is so heavy that you can’t breathe.

While the dragon used to care for you, now you care for him.

And the days go on.

Suddenly, you see the light shining.

You try to put the dragon behind you.

And move forward.

As you pull away, it starts to tear.

Inside your soul.

The wounds that were stopped up, reopen.

Sometimes the hurt is so much, you stop pulling. Making the tear stop.

But then.

A quick tear, ripping.

Sudden and unexpected, freedom.

Flying, soaring.

No more pain. No more dragons haunting the night.

The pain is real but so is the freedom.

The dragon slips into the cave, but you fly up to the sky.

Weightless.

Like a dragon with angel’s wings.