I have a dragon on my shoulder

He's about the size of a cat, with scales that sparkle black in the sunlight

He sits on his perch, and watches the world as it passes me by

Making his comments, and sometimes making me laugh at inappropriate times

I know it sounds great, but trust me when I say, that there is a downside

You see, the problem is,

I have a dragon on my shoulder

Dragons aren't cute, or cuddly, or kind

They are fire, and hate, and greed

He likes the shiny golden memories I used to call my own

He keeps them tucked under his belly, breathing fire down my neck when I reach for them

When he is content, he remarks on the people I love

His words go from snippy to harsh, but as long as they don't know, it is easier to ignore him

When he is bored, his attention turns to me, spitting his venomous words and cruel taunts at me

He drags his claws along my skin and floods my veins with fire that makes me claw to try to free my mind

Sometimes, I can give him candy to keep him happy, little treats that lull him to sleep and give me a little time to breathe

But the candy doesn't just silence him, it numbs my mind and leaves me empty and blank

So I don't give him the candy

I scream and fight against him every day, just in hopes of clinging to my creativity, my spirit, my soul

People tell me to wait, that love will save me, or to fight, to be my own knight

The dragon laughs when I try to fight him, flicking his tail and grinning maliciously

"Silly child, only knights can fight dragons."

You see, even in my own mind, I am nothing more than a jester

An insignificant spot, there for his amusement, nothing more

But still I fight, I stand against his taunts every day and tell him "no, today, I will win"

Because, sometimes, the one precieved to be weak, can do the impossible

I have a dragon on my shoulder

But he won't win