Turtle Pond: Where Dragonflies Magically Turn into Dragons
A rare species of dragonfly inhabits the pond in front of Belvedere Castle.
The pond in front of Belvedere Castle is a miniature nature preserve that, over the years, has attracted everything from ducks and turtles to a rare species of dragonfly that hasn’t been seen in the park in decades.
Being a designated quiet zone, it’s a perfect place for a writer to let his or her imagination run wild. In my case, that meant making the connection between the dragonflies that frequent its pond and the mythical dragon, or cockatrice, that graces the entrance to the castle on the promontory above.
In case you don’t know what a cockatrice is, they are mythical creatures with the head of a rooster, the body of a snake, and the wings of a bat.
The bronze image of the cockatrice that sits above the entrance to Belvedere Castle
Since cockatrices can’t be killed except by seeing their own reflection, I decided to make use of the pond as a mirror, and instead of killing them off, I had them turn into the rare species of dragonfly that lives on its pond!
Such is the freedom of a writer. He can turn anything into anything else with the flick of a pen.
If you want to see how it all unfolds, you might want to read Central Park Story Book One!
