Cardboard Dragon's Fall

[Intro – gentle acoustic guitar strum, distant wind chime] (Instrumental Solo) [Verse 1 – warm acoustic riff, soft shaker] Chalk dust still clings to his wool coat sleeve A cardboard crown perched where his glasses leave He dragged the cut-out to the mountain’s edge Painted scales glowing like a sunset ledge [Pre-Chorus – rising string melody, light snare tap] He closed his eyes and breathed the cold pine air Ignored the kids who stopped to stare Told himself the wings would catch the breeze That this old mountain would bend to his needs [Chorus 1 – full acoustic strum, layered vocals] Ride the dragon down the snow and stone Fire in his veins, he’s finally home The world below shrinks to a watercolor blur He’s not just a teacher, he’s a king unheard [Verse 2 – quiet fingerpicked guitar, faint bass hum] He imagined claws that tore through frost and ice A roar that shook the winter skies The sled hit a rut, but he didn’t flinch Said the dragon’s roar would drown the pinch [Pre-Chorus – swelling strings, faster snare] The wind bit his cheeks, but he laughed out loud Told the clouds to move, told the sun to bow He didn’t see the jagged rock ahead Too busy living the tale he’d read [Chorus 2 – louder strum, emotional vocals] Ride the dragon down the snow and stone Fire in his veins, he’s finally home The world below shrinks to a watercolor blur He’s not just a teacher, he’s a king unheard [Interlude – soft piano melody, fading strings] (Instrumental Solo) [Bridge – sparse guitar, trembling vocals] The cardboard cracked, the crown fell free The dragon’s wings broke at the seam He looked up at the sky one last time Smiled as the cold began to climb [Chorus 3 – stripped-back acoustic, raw vocals] Ride the dragon down the snow and stone Fire in his veins, he’s finally home The world below shrinks to a watercolor blur He’s not just a teacher, he’s a king unheard [Outro – fading guitar, single wind chime] The snow covers the cardboard and the man A story only the mountain can understand