Poetic Verses
Just Fred & the Dragon
5/31/05
The dragon's ire is running high
His eyes are red, there's something nigh
He hears a voice within his head
“It's all right now; it's me, Just Fred”
A blast of fire lights up the night
Then all is calm; “I had a fright
I thought someone was watching me
I couldn't hear, I couldn't see
You weren't around to let me know
T'was just a dream, I felt such woe
That I got heated up inside
Where my strong dragon does reside”
“Fred, can't you see that shadow there
It moves and twists and even stares
Its right behind that rock, you see
I think I'll blast it, Heaven's me
Did you see that? It ran away
It was a shadow come to play
I don't like shadows to be near
They fill me up with so much fear”
Just Fred just sighed and told his friend
His fire blasts were the living end
But noxious fumes they did create
There wasn't a place they could escape
“Look here, dear Shybolt, here's the thing
We've been summoned by the king
He has a journey for us to take
You have to be there for my sake
You must get your fear in control
Or we'll be eaten by a troll
For on this trip we'll see such things
As trolls, and elves and Fairy rings
We must go to the palace now
The King is calling me somehow
We have to go, answer his call
For King and country we'll give all”
Just Fred saw Shybolt start to fade
He went from dark green to the shade
Of new leaves that were on the tree
Beside his lair, “you can't fool me
You're hiding Shybolt in plain sight
You know that only works at night
Now come along, we two must go
To find out things we have to know
Before we go upon our trip
Shybolt you can't give me the slip
I need for you to just be brave
We might have a princess to save”
Shybolt thought, “A princess fair
With diamonds in her bright red hair
With jewels that dripped off of her cloths
I could be brave, I do suppose”
Shybolt got all his color back
Just Fred thought, “Well now we're on track
The King will really be surprised
When Shybolt stands before his eyes”
They traveled to the castle keep
Where Torbrith and Tayisha sweet
Were waiting on the garden path
For Sage was filled with so much wrath
They'd tried to find out what was wrong
But Sage could only say, “The Song”
They needed help to find a way
For Sage to calm down on this day
Shybolt flew in with friend Just Fred
A voice was whispering in his head
“My name is Sage from Castle Keep
Are you both here to help me sleep?”
Shybolt nearly died from fright
When he saw Sage in the bright light
The morning was so crisp and clear
You saw Sage's ragged ear
Just Fred bowed low before the King
“We're here now Sire, there is one thing
Dear Shybolt seems to have some fear
Which makes him almost useless here”
“Not so” the King said in such voice
Shybolt and Fred, they had no choice
They had to listen carefully
He told about the princess, Bree
“The Princess came for the Great Ball
She's heard her Father took a fall
Bree's really upset don't you know
Her Father wanted her to go
You've got to try to take her there
You've got to fly her through the air
Straight to her father where she'll swear
That she'll always be right there
All he has to do is call
And she'll fly home right from the Ball
Her Father is a stubborn man
So do the best for her you can”
Just Fred climbed up on Shybolt's back
“The Princess Bree will have no lack
Of someone who she can hold tight
Sire, we'll be back before it's night”
Bree climbed right up behind Just Fred
“I'm going to hold on tight,” she said
“So fly as fast as you can fly
We'll see my castle by and by”
Bree held to Fred, Fred held Shybolt
For he was frisky as a colt
He'd never had two riders fly
Upon his back, his strength was high
Shybolt knew he was needed here
When he was done, he'd have some beer
Just Fred could ask for what he'd need
Shybolt felt that this was a deed
That would become something to do
They could fly the whole day through
Shybolt felt strong and smiled so big
Fire almost lit up someone's wig
For they were flying fast and low
They didn't have that far to go
The princess Bree was so impressed
But she was glad she hadn't dressed
For the Great Ball before her ride
She'd smell like smoke at even tide
Bree'd get to her father fast
This Dragon ride was such a BLAST
When at last they settled down
They landed in a tiny town
With tiny people everywhere
Who worked and ran without a care
The castle too was very small
An Emissary got the call
To come and let the Princess in
To see her father and begin
To get him ready for a ride
He'd be at the Ball, he could not slide
He'd have to ride away with them
“Shybolt's looking awfully grim”
Just Fred said to the Princess Bree
“He doesn't think he can carry three”
The Princess looked in Shybolt's eyes
“You're going to get a big surprise
He isn't very big you see
It won't be hard to carry three
I take after my dear Mom
Who was a Giantess from Drom”
“When he comes out, now don't you laugh
He's shy like you, but has such wrath
At folks who do make fun of him
His eyes turn red right to the rim”
Just Fred said, “Shybolt is the same
Just the mention of one name
His eyes start whirling bright and red
He flicks his tail and turns his head
He'll breathe fire and blast out flame
Tis almost like a silly game”
Bree looked Just Fred in the face
“I think I know you from someplace
I've heard that voice, I've heard you sing
You've been a minstrel for a king
What happened, Sir to lay you low?
Why do you stay where dragons go?
You used to have a fine big bed
Now sleep on straw with him instead
Why Just Fred don't you still sing?
Did you upset some mighty King?”
Just Fred let out a great big sigh
I knew this would come by and by
“I found the dragon on the road
Just a baby, there he strode
Right up to me and said, “You're mine
We'll be together for all time
I need someone to help me grow
Just right before we let Mom know
That I am here for her to see
She really didn't much like me”
“So there's this baby dragonet
Whose thirsty and who hasn't et
I have to find a stream and lair
I am so busy taking care
Of Shybolt that I just forgot
All of my songs, for they were not
Important to me anymore
I had a more important chore
To raise this dragon that you see
So I still sleep beside his knee”
“I have a bed that's fine as silk
I have my food, I have some milk
There are some fancies that he found
And placed them for me all around
He is so good to me, you know
That I don't really want to go
To sing and play in front of those
Who where such fancy, funny clothes
This is our first job for our King
It almost makes me want to sing”
“I'd love to hear you sing again
Oh look, here comes my dear best friend”
Out of the gate a small man came
He was walking rather lame
You could tell he was in pain
Shybolt said, “Just Fred, explain
Why you aren't helping that small man
He's hobbling so, I think you can
Go up to him and take his arm
He wouldn't do you any harm”
The small lame man was Bree's dear Dad
And oh he looked so very said
“I wanted you to have some fun
Not to come home at a run
You're grown and independent now
You have to find a place somehow
Where there will be a special love
You are my dear sweet Turtle Dove
I want to see my grand kids grow
I fear my dear you're much too slow”
Bree just blushed and hung her head
Her Father, King, just simply said
“I'll fly along with you my dear
So do not pout and have no fear
We'll find a person right for you
How about this prince, I think he'll do”
Just Fred looked up in great surprise
With recognition in his eyes
He'd been invited here before
When he was prince, of Delfalore
“Dear Sir, I've lost my royal ties
That shouldn't be a big surprise
They came and took the throne away
It took a whole night and a day
The palace guards did fight so hard
Till they all laid there in the yard
My Father gave to me my lute
He said, ‘A minstrel they won't shoot
Put on old clothes, go out the door
And don't return here evermore' ”
“I haven't seen him from that day
I hope he's still alive, I pray
But he's no longer King, you see
And I a simple minstrel be”
“A Prince who rides on Dragon back
That's who you are, there is no lack
Of royalty within your soul
For one day you will make things whole”
Bree looked deep within Fred's eye
“Oh I think I see something nigh”
Just Fred grinned a little bit
Shybolt kneeled so King could sit
Comfortably upon his back
Then he took a different tack
He jumped gently in the air
Circled town with so much flair
Bree exclaimed, “They're looking now”
Shybolt gave a light bow
Bree and the King waved to the crowd
Just Fred just shouted right out loud
“We'll bring them back another day
But at the Ball they both must stay
They'll dance around and eat good food
Neither one will be a prude
Shybolt and I can promise you
That we'll be back at half past two
A couple days from now you see
With your Dear King and Princess Bree”
The crowd just roared and waved goodbye
Fred saw a tear in the King's eye.
“I know where your Father is
I swore I'd tell you that he lives
But you've been hidden for so long
We thought you'd sung your final song
I am so glad you came for me
You once sang right at my knee
When my love was taken away
And my days were awfully grey
As a minstrel you came in
And you helped me to begin”
They landed soon at Torbrith's door
Tayisha hurried cross the floor
“Bree, come get dressed, put on your jewels
We must be ready, Torbrith's rules
To have the Ball begin at Six
My hairs a mess, it feels like sticks
Now Sire you must come dress up too
We've something nice…it's Royal Blue
Just Fred, you must change for the Ball
We've got a Purple one, you're tall”
“Your Highness, I'm a simple man
I'll do for you what e're I can
I'll carry things both to and fro
That's why you want for me to go”
“You silly man, you're well known here
Now give dear Shybolt his sweet beer
We've always wanted you to come
To Castle Keep to have some fun
But it was hard to make you hear
Till Torbrith hollered loud and clear”
The dragon's ire is running high
His eyes are red, there's something nigh
He hears a voice within his head
“It's all right now; it's me, Just Fred”
A blast of fire lights up the night
Then all is calm; “I had a fright
I thought someone was watching me
I couldn't hear, I couldn't see
You weren't around to let me know
T'was just a dream, I felt such woe
That I got heated up inside
Where my strong dragon does reside”
“Fred, can't you see that shadow there
It moves and twists and even stares
Its right behind that rock, you see
I think I'll blast it, Heaven's me
Did you see that? It ran away
It was a shadow come to play
I don't like shadows to be near
They fill me up with so much fear”
Just Fred just sighed and told his friend
His fire blasts were the living end
But noxious fumes they did create
There wasn't a place they could escape
“Look here, dear Shybolt, here's the thing
We've been summoned by the king
He has a journey for us to take
You have to be there for my sake
You must get your fear in control
Or we'll be eaten by a troll
For on this trip we'll see such things
As trolls, and elves and Fairy rings
We must go to the palace now
The King is calling me somehow
We have to go, answer his call
For King and country we'll give all”
Just Fred saw Shybolt start to fade
He went from dark green to the shade
Of new leaves that were on the tree
Beside his lair, “you can't fool me
You're hiding Shybolt in plain sight
You know that only works at night
Now come along, we two must go
To find out things we have to know
Before we go upon our trip
Shybolt you can't give me the slip
I need for you to just be brave
We might have a princess to save”
Shybolt thought, “A princess fair
With diamonds in her bright red hair
With jewels that dripped off of her cloths
I could be brave, I do suppose”
Shybolt got all his color back
Just Fred thought, “Well now we're on track
The King will really be surprised
When Shybolt stands before his eyes”
They traveled to the castle keep
Where Torbrith and Tayisha sweet
Were waiting on the garden path
For Sage was filled with so much wrath
They'd tried to find out what was wrong
But Sage could only say, “The Song”
They needed help to find a way
For Sage to calm down on this day
Shybolt flew in with friend Just Fred
A voice was whispering in his head
“My name is Sage from Castle Keep
Are you both here to help me sleep?”
Shybolt nearly died from fright
When he saw Sage in the bright light
The morning was so crisp and clear
You saw Sage's ragged ear
Just Fred bowed low before the King
“We're here now Sire, there is one thing
Dear Shybolt seems to have some fear
Which makes him almost useless here”
“Not so” the King said in such voice
Shybolt and Fred, they had no choice
They had to listen carefully
He told about the princess, Bree
“The Princess came for the Great Ball
She's heard her Father took a fall
Bree's really upset don't you know
Her Father wanted her to go
You've got to try to take her there
You've got to fly her through the air
Straight to her father where she'll swear
That she'll always be right there
All he has to do is call
And she'll fly home right from the Ball
Her Father is a stubborn man
So do the best for her you can”
Just Fred climbed up on Shybolt's back
“The Princess Bree will have no lack
Of someone who she can hold tight
Sire, we'll be back before it's night”
Bree climbed right up behind Just Fred
“I'm going to hold on tight,” she said
“So fly as fast as you can fly
We'll see my castle by and by”
Bree held to Fred, Fred held Shybolt
For he was frisky as a colt
He'd never had two riders fly
Upon his back, his strength was high
Shybolt knew he was needed here
When he was done, he'd have some beer
Just Fred could ask for what he'd need
Shybolt felt that this was a deed
That would become something to do
They could fly the whole day through
Shybolt felt strong and smiled so big
Fire almost lit up someone's wig
For they were flying fast and low
They didn't have that far to go
The princess Bree was so impressed
But she was glad she hadn't dressed
For the Great Ball before her ride
She'd smell like smoke at even tide
Bree'd get to her father fast
This Dragon ride was such a BLAST
When at last they settled down
They landed in a tiny town
With tiny people everywhere
Who worked and ran without a care
The castle too was very small
An Emissary got the call
To come and let the Princess in
To see her father and begin
To get him ready for a ride
He'd be at the Ball, he could not slide
He'd have to ride away with them
“Shybolt's looking awfully grim”
Just Fred said to the Princess Bree
“He doesn't think he can carry three”
The Princess looked in Shybolt's eyes
“You're going to get a big surprise
He isn't very big you see
It won't be hard to carry three
I take after my dear Mom
Who was a Giantess from Drom”
“When he comes out, now don't you laugh
He's shy like you, but has such wrath
At folks who do make fun of him
His eyes turn red right to the rim”
Just Fred said, “Shybolt is the same
Just the mention of one name
His eyes start whirling bright and red
He flicks his tail and turns his head
He'll breathe fire and blast out flame
Tis almost like a silly game”
Bree looked Just Fred in the face
“I think I know you from someplace
I've heard that voice, I've heard you sing
You've been a minstrel for a king
What happened, Sir to lay you low?
Why do you stay where dragons go?
You used to have a fine big bed
Now sleep on straw with him instead
Why Just Fred don't you still sing?
Did you upset some mighty King?”
Just Fred let out a great big sigh
I knew this would come by and by
“I found the dragon on the road
Just a baby, there he strode
Right up to me and said, “You're mine
We'll be together for all time
I need someone to help me grow
Just right before we let Mom know
That I am here for her to see
She really didn't much like me”
“So there's this baby dragonet
Whose thirsty and who hasn't et
I have to find a stream and lair
I am so busy taking care
Of Shybolt that I just forgot
All of my songs, for they were not
Important to me anymore
I had a more important chore
To raise this dragon that you see
So I still sleep beside his knee”
“I have a bed that's fine as silk
I have my food, I have some milk
There are some fancies that he found
And placed them for me all around
He is so good to me, you know
That I don't really want to go
To sing and play in front of those
Who where such fancy, funny clothes
This is our first job for our King
It almost makes me want to sing”
“I'd love to hear you sing again
Oh look, here comes my dear best friend”
Out of the gate a small man came
He was walking rather lame
You could tell he was in pain
Shybolt said, “Just Fred, explain
Why you aren't helping that small man
He's hobbling so, I think you can
Go up to him and take his arm
He wouldn't do you any harm”
The small lame man was Bree's dear Dad
And oh he looked so very said
“I wanted you to have some fun
Not to come home at a run
You're grown and independent now
You have to find a place somehow
Where there will be a special love
You are my dear sweet Turtle Dove
I want to see my grand kids grow
I fear my dear you're much too slow”
Bree just blushed and hung her head
Her Father, King, just simply said
“I'll fly along with you my dear
So do not pout and have no fear
We'll find a person right for you
How about this prince, I think he'll do”
Just Fred looked up in great surprise
With recognition in his eyes
He'd been invited here before
When he was prince, of Delfalore
“Dear Sir, I've lost my royal ties
That shouldn't be a big surprise
They came and took the throne away
It took a whole night and a day
The palace guards did fight so hard
Till they all laid there in the yard
My Father gave to me my lute
He said, ‘A minstrel they won't shoot
Put on old clothes, go out the door
And don't return here evermore' ”
“I haven't seen him from that day
I hope he's still alive, I pray
But he's no longer King, you see
And I a simple minstrel be”
“A Prince who rides on Dragon back
That's who you are, there is no lack
Of royalty within your soul
For one day you will make things whole”
Bree looked deep within Fred's eye
“Oh I think I see something nigh”
Just Fred grinned a little bit
Shybolt kneeled so King could sit
Comfortably upon his back
Then he took a different tack
He jumped gently in the air
Circled town with so much flair
Bree exclaimed, “They're looking now”
Shybolt gave a light bow
Bree and the King waved to the crowd
Just Fred just shouted right out loud
“We'll bring them back another day
But at the Ball they both must stay
They'll dance around and eat good food
Neither one will be a prude
Shybolt and I can promise you
That we'll be back at half past two
A couple days from now you see
With your Dear King and Princess Bree”
The crowd just roared and waved goodbye
Fred saw a tear in the King's eye.
“I know where your Father is
I swore I'd tell you that he lives
But you've been hidden for so long
We thought you'd sung your final song
I am so glad you came for me
You once sang right at my knee
When my love was taken away
And my days were awfully grey
As a minstrel you came in
And you helped me to begin”
They landed soon at Torbrith's door
Tayisha hurried cross the floor
“Bree, come get dressed, put on your jewels
We must be ready, Torbrith's rules
To have the Ball begin at Six
My hairs a mess, it feels like sticks
Now Sire you must come dress up too
We've something nice…it's Royal Blue
Just Fred, you must change for the Ball
We've got a Purple one, you're tall”
“Your Highness, I'm a simple man
I'll do for you what e're I can
I'll carry things both to and fro
That's why you want for me to go”
“You silly man, you're well known here
Now give dear Shybolt his sweet beer
We've always wanted you to come
To Castle Keep to have some fun
But it was hard to make you hear
Till Torbrith hollered loud and clear”
