The Poem

I’m walking down the history section in the library, searching for a book I have not read this summer. Then I see an old volume about mythology, presumably only touched by a few hands in ages. It’s very heavy, but I open it anyway. As I hold it to my face to read, something falls out. I set the book down and pick up the piece of paper. It’s a poem.

Over rolling hills
And skies so blue,
Green leaves dripping
With drops of dew.

Fairies fly
With sunshine bright
That slowly turns
To starry night.

The parchment looks ancient, and as I read, a landscape forms around me. Green hills, blue skies, everything from the poem! I’m in a magical world!

As I’m gazing around the breathtaking scenery I don’t notice a dark shadow soar above my head. As it descends, I realize that it’s a dragon!

I drop the poem I’m holding. Wisps of smoke curl around its nostrils, and its fiery tongue lashes out at me. I shake with fear.

I gingerly walk backwards and retrieve the poem, but the dragon charges at me, setting things ablaze. I run, but he corners me at the edge of a cliff!

Just as I’m about to fall, a knight zooms in front of me and starts to fight the dragon. A fairy with glittering wings signals for me to run. I run as long as I can, until I’m far, far away.

I repeat the poem and sigh with relief when the landscape slowly morphs back into the history aisle in the library. I know this is crazy, but I stuff the poem into the book and go to the front desk to check it out.

“Mythology around the world?” the librarian asks.

I nod, and she shrugs and hands it over.

Later as I walk home, I smile. Now that I have the poem, a hundred adventures await me.