Edit 5: Sailing to Tawnydale

[Achebe]

..........hard to picture acorns in the shape of etc - why not just “scattered / like dragon etc”?
they're scattered in the shape of dragon footprints. kinda like saying "the party cups were arranged in sets of triangles". I'm not understanding how I should reword this

Best, Alex

well....pine needles scattered in the shape of dragon footprints would mean that they are arranged in the shape of dragon footprints. It's not clear why they would be 'scattered' in such a shape. I assumed your intention was to say that said needles etc. were scattered like a dragon's footprints would be scattered around the ground i.e. all over the place, presumably.

In the new version, 'pine needles are a dragon's footprints' is a confusing metaphor. I suggest that you stick to the original simile, eg. 'are scattered, like dragons' footprints'

Best