In Defence Of Dragons

I had an interesting muse sparked in response to elaborating upon my preference for fantastical literature...

As it seems to be a lifelong occupation here’s something to consider.

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Hello, yes I supposed I shouldn’t be too surprised about your opinions on Fantasy. We’ve quibbled over that one for longer than I can remember.

I’ve never given a toss about its service to me and while I do not disagree with you the 

“finally” serving my best interests well”  was somewhat of a sting.

You cried because I wasn’t interested in Jane Eyre yet rarely does it seem to occur to people the invisible marks they leave scoffing at my affinity for the fairy tale.

Even prior to the massive shifts in my life, magic and the thought of worlds beyond what we perceive was a home to me.

The idea that one must surrender themselves to practicalities and realities as if they are a fine in crossing the tollbooth into maturity seems as ridiculous to me at twenty-three as it once did at twelve.

Indeed the few times I’ve dabbled in so called adult fantasy I’ve found it too riddled with fornication and bloodshed to a point that it overshadows the very essence of what enraptures me, stringing my own soul along as though I had any other choice but to follow.

And this is the magic itself.

The worlds.

For someone at home in realities gaps there are thousands if not hundreds of thousands of possible gateways. 

One need only read a paragraph of Riordan or Rowling to find themselves immersed mobile mazes and fastidious flights.

For rest assured a well woven world adheres to its rules as strictly as we adhere our own.

Norton Juster breathes life into our metaphors, taking us on a psychoanalytical journey as we touch on everything from idioms to infinity.

Incidentally we return, along with Milo, to our own world at the end of it and are encouraged to look at it for all its potential.

Hidden behind paper dragons and priestesses Lisa McMann touches upon right and left-brained intelligence; pre-conceived notions and the lust for power.

Perhaps those who condemn it think people who return to the fantastical merely reside in a repetitive world of dew-dappled rainbows and mischievous fae.

I assure you it is so much more.

I find there are only so many ways one can toy with this world, periodical or no.

When you dive into a tale with magic at its heart there you will discover colours and contortions. Questions you didn’t even know you had are answered.

Anything is possible and Everything is.

I suppose I’ll conclude this with a reminder that fairy tales were not originally intended for children.

And certainly many of the classics have been watered down with age.

I gripe about bloodshed but darkness too has a place in my little worlds, as does passion.

At the heart of it however is magic.

And Magic, to me, is the closest I’ll get to dancing across the Milky Way and laying my lips across Forever.

©️~Belle Emilie Gold