Where Dragons Find Solace
Ian Li
In hollows of Ancienne trees,
curled up in tight coils,
ashy breath sweetened with
heady scent of ancient flowers.
In swift skyward air currents,
reminders of when they learned to fly,
swooping joyously alongside siblings
before they knew to tussle over territory.
In flowing meadows and claw-raked hills
where they first laid eyes on their mates,
when their inner hearths ignited with love
instead of smoldering resentment.
In their grandmothers’ old dens
filled with memories of warm nuzzles,
where tender embers still glow
long after their residents are gone.
“Where Dragons Find Solace”, © Ian Li, first published here in Cosmic Roots & Eldritch Shores, December 21, 2024
Ian Li (he/him) is a Chinese-Canadian writer of speculative fiction and poetry. As an economist and developer, he also loves spreadsheets, statistical curiosities, and brain teasers. His writing is published or forthcoming in Orion’s Belt, Abyss & Apex, and Worlds of Possibility, among other venues. Learn more at https://ian-li.com.
Lead Illustration by Fran Eisemann
background illustration “Unnamed” © Marek Purzycki Marek Purzycki, aka igreeny, is a Polish artist working in digital media. His work can be found at igreeny.deviantart.com/
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