A Ballad of Samurai

News of a Siege

Then after long he told the man of things he learned in land
Not far from present place that both the boy and master stand.

"I sought to leave my station bid
Where many dangers men are give,
To venture far from order gave
From birth to seek an early grave.

I sought a station found in world
Where danger's hold does fail to curl
And grasp its hand around our selves
Where warring men have chose to dwell.

But world is filled with danger great
No matter rank your bid by fate.
And venture took when out I cast
Has proved that war's a safer path.

In present age aren't dangers kept
In every shadow left unchecked?
And many without our station grant
Must face those things with help that's scant.

For neither training neither sword
Can normal men yet keep and horde.
To safety grant when world is faced
On rank alone is chance yet graced

To keep you safe from all that's held
Inside these lands with will that's fell."

Now hearing boy the man does shift and bid him sit beside
The man who current works on craft not turning thing from eye.
So child with pausing walk to side of master slowly goes
Not knowing whether night will grant this shack as boy's abode.

"Hesitant step and the shaking I hear
Speak of the fact that you still have yet fear.
Courage is present still far from your grasp
Still what you've learned will yet serve me in task

Till you do learn what is bravery's cause
Rushing to battle with little a pause
Keeping you walking on path that I've asked
Teaching you ways of the Samurai caste."

In silence pair now sat the boy's own breathing quickly slowed
No longer fearing out from house the child by man be goad.
Then sudden twinkle lit the eye and elder turned aside
That spoke of question underneath his placid surface lied.

"Rolling of hills and the waving of grace
Comeliest things on this land are yet cast.
Still, I do wonder what turned you aside
Sending you back to your master's own side?

Tell me what things you did see in this land
Though for this happening your master did plan."

The boy now froze afraid to tell what thing the child had learned
Inside the shack where spinster bides in greatest fury earned.
If crone in fact did live or merely lingered still on earth
An angry ghost to watch his fate and savor well his hurt.

So boy instead did tell the man of challenge child was gave
By village boy to lead the Onis far from place they're laid.
To tell of dare that boy was gave the only thing he dared
Yet still the man at tale could tell from just a single stare

That still some secret child did keep now hidden deep in heart,
But man did merely bide his time and play a master's part.

"Foolhardy acts and the lacking of thought
Disaster and panic for long have yet brought.
Back in the past that was custom of place
Till a mistake was yet made in the haste

Brought by the fear that the Oni do give
Sending a boy to our village as bid
Fast by the feet he had fled to his home
Seeking a place where in safety he roams.

Drawing those beast to the village he kept
Leading them down while the rest of them slept
Many did die and the village was burned
Out from their midst was the custom then spurned

Never again were they bidden to lead
Proving their courage when dare they did heed
On to places yet far from their post
Distance of which they did afterwards boast.