**After a dozen feet down the dark corridor you navigate by touch, following the walls, your foot splashes water as you step into a shallow puddle. As you step back, a soft glow begins to shine from the floor. The puddle seems to be much deeper than what you stepped in, and you see a colorful... something... floating not so far under the surface. You bend down for a closer look. The something forms into a jumble of letters, which rise to the surface of the water, spelling out words, before they fall back to the jumble.**



                Metamorphous


                Once in the land of Longago...

                On the shore of Nevermore

                There lived a lonely dragon...

                who survived medieval war...

                He was caught up in a daydream

                of knights and maidens faire...

                because to think of other things

                was more than he could bare...

                His heart was pure and gentle

                His spirit tried and true....

                He seemed a beast of fierceness

                to folks like me and you...

                One day he simply melted

                to ashes blownto sea....

                and washed across the waters

                to Abetterplacetobe...

                'Twas there among the driftwood

                he 'rose and flew again...

                a thing of winged beauty...

                an angel born to men...

                To those contrite in spirit...

                there comes the noble call...

                there is a wounded healer

                to be born within us all.

                The sword of faith is mighty...

                The fire of hope burns on...

                even in a dragon's heart

                long after he is gone...

                In the Land of Happy Endings...

                In a book not put to pen...

                there's love and peace

                and dreams come true...

                for all good beasts and men....



                written for Chris



                -by jennifer grant-



                **The final words fall back under the surface of the water. The soft glow begins to dim. Before it fully dies out you manage to use the light to return to the hall.**



                "Metamorphus" written and copywritted by Jennifer Grant, 2000.