In the wake of Aurora

Rhossili village, Gower Peninsula
06:45 AM GMT

There is an old Chinese -and now anglicised- slang expression “chasing the dragon” which refers to inhaling the vapour or heroin, opium or the like, in an elusive pursuit of something ultimately high. I have never been into drugs and I am too old to believe in dragons. But I am also old enough to know that dragons don’t only exist in folklore: their provenance is found deep in the origins of our language. Our language is falsely perceived to have been sired by the royal courtiers who called it “Queen’s English”. It was forged by ruthless invaders centuries ago. Some of those warriors believed in dragons but depicted them giant serpents. The serpent I am after is about half a mile away and it has already become plain to sight.

(to be continued…)
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