Sir DaVied & The White Dragon

  • In memory of my friend, “piano man” David Dominy, who passed 03/05/2005. This is presented in fairy tale form, partly fact and partly fiction — but no happy ending. It is based on a brother musician, with whom I made music, and whom I loved. He was taken down by the evil, insistent white dragon. He would have been 74 Saturday. Tuesday’s dragon prompt called my attention to this older piece.

  • Original DDE™ surreal art: “The White Dragon” by: rob kistner © 11/20/24

     

    He had such a great laugh
    and talent 100 fold

    he was a keyboard wizard
    who conjured hard won magic
    on a daily basis

    riding persistent sentry
    over his mighty
    sleeping white dragon

    keeping it at bay

    protecting himself
    and loved ones
    from its ravaging fire

    the white dragon had held him captive
    for over seven years
    having overtaken him one day
    in a careless moment of weakness
    when this wizard had been foolish
    and let down his guard

    but the brave wizard
    Sir DaVied as he was known
    had again found his courage
    and fought back the white dragon
    driving it into submission
    difficult and tentative as it was

    sadly though
    the cunning dragon
    would not be held down
    and in a moment
    when the wizard’s vigilence
    had sadly waned
    the white dragon pulled Sir DaVied
    once more under his evil spell

    on this fateful day
    the wizard’s infectious laughter
    had become infected lunacy

    his beautiful dreams
    had again become dread

    as the nightmares returned
    the evil white dragon
    imprisoned the wizard
    in its dark and haunted lair

    it was reported
    Sir DaVied’s rants
    could be clearly heard
    above the bustle
    of the homeward privileged
    that passed unaware
    of the wizard’s dilemma

    the battle had raged long

    coarse rants and ramblings
    rose from the rancid shadows
    until in final desperation
    fetid hands lit the fateful fire
    that brought to boil
    the white magic potion
    of the wizard’s deliverance

    he’d slipped the cold steel
    into the froth of sweet promise
    still warm with transformation
    and drew the white magic potion
    into the glassen’d vessel
    of ultimate escape

    tied and tapped into submission
    distraught from battle
    this magical musical wizard
    impaled his demons
    with the white dragon’s dagger
    hoping the potion
    would drive back the monster

    saving himself yet again

    but not this time
    no deliverance this time

    the cunning white dragon
    broke down the wizard’s defense
    and claimed the brave wizard
    as silver-white sleep
    carried him away

    the wizard was gone

    gone on his silver steed
    for his final ride
    to the realm of no return

    now the wizard’s castle
    is in abandoned disarray

    no lights to stave off darkness

    the piano is broken-keyed
    caked with time and neglect

    no more does the wizard
    descend the marble stairs
    and glide back
    the black lacquered bench

    nor lay hands
    on the polished ivory
    to control the mighty Steinway

    no more does he confidently caress
    and coax those keys to his commands

    no more do the beautiful strains
    of the gold-framed
    spiral-string soundboard
    waft tenderly up the staircase

    nor ring gently
    in the empty atrium

    no — the wizard DaVied
    has passed

    but in my soul
    in my heart
    his spirit
    his music
    (((echoes on…)))


    Photograph by Romain Thiery

    *
    rob kistner © 2021
    revision © 2024

    Poetry at: Sunday Muse

    Poetry at: dVerse