Fantastic creatures in sunrise

The winter morning was beautiful earlier this week.  I watched the sky brighten and start to illuminate the sparse clouds scattered along the horizon and further off to the west.  With the color running into the day, I saw a dragon stretch its wings out as it reached towards the rising sun.  Surely a victim of my exuberant imagination, I was little surprised when I saw a phoenix flying low along the eastern horizon when I turned in that direction.  Switching from one fantastic creature to the other during the short time that the best light of the day held, I enjoyed this sunrise tremendously.  A childhood spent reading legends and myths revisited for a few minutes out on the cold prairie.  A warm thank you to my elementary teacher, Alanda, who introduced our class to these stories and kindled the fire of my imagination.