Token Loss
To the dragon any loss is total. His rest is disrupted if a single jewel encrusted goblet has been stolen. The circle of himself in the nest of his gold has been broken. No loss is token.
Credit
Copyright © 2014 by Kay Ryan. Used with permission of the author. This poem appeared in Poem-A-Day on January 10, 2014. Browse the Poem-A-Day archive.
About this Poem
"Ideally, this little poem would be printed as a circle and wouldn’t start or end but rather would round upon itself like the seamless repose of the dragon. But, on second thought, since it’s describing the disruption of the dragon’s perfect circuit, I guess it makes sense that it’s all chopped up."
—Kay Ryan
Author
Kay Ryan
The author of several collections of poetry, Kay Ryan has served as both a Poet Laureate for the Library of Congress and a Chancellor for the Academy of American Poets.
Date Published
01/10/2014