Poems with Lois Letchford: I Have a Mechanical Dragon

2 Nov 2020 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

1:08

In this YouTube video, Lois Letchford—author of Reversed: A Memoir and self‑described literacy problem solver—introduces herself and the source of the poem, Jack Palutski’s The Dragons Are Singing Tonight. She then delivers a single‑speaker reading of the poem “I Made a Mechanical Dragon.” The poem enumerates the eclectic, discarded materials she used—bottle tops, hinges, strings, old clocks, socks, hangers, springs, cardboard, plastic, doormats, cables, corks, spools, balloons, spoons, rusty shovels, and forks—to construct a quirky, irregular‑wheel dragon that clatters, creaks, rattles, squeaks, and squeals when it tips over. The narrator reflects on the dragon’s stubborn autonomy: despite attempts to steer it, the creature bumps into walls, totters, and falls, underscoring a theme of failed control over a handmade creation. The reading concludes with a brief call‑to‑action encouraging viewers to like, subscribe, and enjoy the content.

Chapters

Hello, I'm Lois Letchford, author of the book Reversed: A Memoir and literacy problem solver, sharing poems from Jack Palutski's The Dragons Are Singing Tonight. And this one is I Made a Mechanical Dragon. I made a mechanical dragon of bottle tops, hinges, and strings, of thrown-away clocks and unmendable socks. Of hangers and worn inner springs. I built it of cardboard and plastic, of doormats and cables and corks, of spools and balloons and unusable spoons and rusty old shovels and forks. It's quite an unusual dragon. It rolls on irregular wheels. It clatters and creaks and it rattles and squeaks. And when it tips over, it squeals. I've tried to control its manoeuvres. It fails to obey my commands. It bumps into walls till it totters and falls. I made it myself with my hands. Thank you. Hit like, hit subscribe, and enjoy.