It is a well-known fact that St. Michael slew the dragon. Less well known are the five churches, dedicated to St. Michael, built in a ring around the Radnor Forest in mid Wales. They guard a sleeping dragon but who can tell what fate awaits us should the churches close?

Drovers Retreat nestles in the parish of Llanfihangel Rhydithon (Llanfihangel means Church of St. Michael). The other 'Michael' churches are at Discoed, Llanfihagel Nant Melan and Cefynllys.

THE RADNOR DRAGON

Five churches guard our dragon,
the ancient legend goes
but ‘though most folk are sceptical
I have glimpsed his toes…

they mark the fissures in the land
where gullies cut right through
majestic hills and pastured banks,
I’ve seen his sharp spines too

picked out as trees of conifer
arched on his back.
Its true!

Soft shadows on Rhydithon
with rows of empty pews,
are folded dragon’s wings,
he’s crouched in midday snooze.

His tail sweeps round from Cascob,
through Discoed to Nant Melan
marking the road like a ribbon
mapped out in nature’s plan.

At Cefnllys he rests his head
tucked in rings of Yew,
while sleeping breath and moistened tongue
fashion the misty hue.

When sun glints through the forest
it’s the sparkle of his eye
and the howl at night in winter
the pain of his lonely cry.

I’ve walked the paths in sun’s full heat
his fire upon my skin,
when wind whips up as birds take flight
with the roar that awakes in him.

Then farmers find they’ve lost some stock
and only bones remain,
the dew pond dries, the hay crop fails
and folk look to the hills again.

Then our dragon rouses from his rest
as church doors slam shut tight
the beast stands up, stretching his limbs
and creeps out of the forest at night.