Within the dragon's lair I drew my quill instead of sword ~
he leapt across the chasms wide, a rose as my reward.
He was not a ferocious beast as some would have me think ~
a tear fell slowly from his eye as he cleared his throat to drink.
"I am doomed by this cold flame that pierces breast and heart.
I am cursed to love a girl whose land lies far apart.
I am damned by this scaly skin I can only shed at night ~
her pale flesh would shudder e'er she fled if she ever glimpsed this sight."
I told him, "Ah, true love is blind ~ only faith could make her wait
until the moon is wild and full of fire, then she would not hesitate.
Please, dear Sir, you must be sure that her love is strong enough to keep ~
for a splendid star, such as you are, was never meant to weep."
He thanked me for my kindness then, and then, he turned to speak ~
"Alas, my lass is beneath the grass; it is her garden I must seek."
I placed my hand upon his brow and whispered soothing words ~
the last I knew, it seemed he flew o'er the forest, with singing birds.
When I awoke, I knew I'd been among the blesséd realms of yore ~
within my heart, he'll always breathe ~ no, I could not ask for more...
Honorable mention
Bronze trophy winner
Adding your comment:
... but when you do it, not only is the rhyme scheme random in places, but it is not really random it only switches to slant rhymes only not side rhymes 
... that is really nice and you avoid the stupid gallop of almost all of the poetry that rhymes around here ... 
... they rhyme like cow bells and braying donkeys here and call it spot on ... how stupid that is ... but when you do it the flow is smooth as oiled kisses and writhing as happy playing tongues upon beloved notes ... when your poem needs an ars poetic lilt you give the line a push or a kick and off it goes to where it belongs ...
