“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.” G.K. Chesterton
Fairytales tell dragons
That children often win,
While flame and wings are wonderful
Advantage goes to skin.
And princesses, though tasty,
Will always be pursued,
They learn they have one tender spot,
And swords are sharp, though crude.
They learn that cunning riddles
Will only help a bit,
That well aimed spears and arrows
Will substitute for wit.
They learn how hoards draw thieves by night
And act like magnets for a knight
So really now discretion is
The better part of doing right.
And that is why our children ask
If dragons are quite real
Since dragons learned from fairytales
What’s better to conceal.
We meet them every day, disguised,
Hiding their claws and scales,
Helping the poor and old because
They learned from fairytales.
