A Ballad of Samurai

The Revenge of the Yuki-Onna

Read in Landscape!!!

Away from village boy now stole beneath a crescent moon
To go to home where man prepares to meet his coming doom.
As all about him gather things and meet inside the square
To climb to mountain ranges high where folk it's danger's dare

In hopes to flee the fate that's gave by coming kitsune's wrath
They ready selves for trek along a foreign wending path.
But boy unlike the rest of  mass had little goods to keep
Alone his sling and tools he used when wilder places seeks

The boy for things he need to live the pelts and furs he sells
Alone these things the child does keep as goods in place he dwells.
So while the mind of others turn and think of gath'ring things
The meager goods they all do want to high in mountains bring.

His mind has turn to man he met not long ago in time
To go about the village kept and see if boy can't find
The warring man to turn him far from current path he meets
In hopes that man the mountain shelter sure with rest would seek.

Through crowds of houses child now went no one to pay him heed
Or folks to issue words or task that gives preparing deed.
Until at last he came to rented home in which the man now stayed
Inside by self preparing well for task himself had gave.

And stilling heart inside the boy now went with silent pace
Bit still as quick as silence lets he shuffled on with haste.
Inside at table man is set a bonsai tree he clips
With skillful hand and little knife the limbs he deftly nips.

And long the boy in wonder sets and stares thing he makes
Until the warrior starts to speak so caution quick abates.

"The haste of your coming in night and the silence that the boy aspires
Does tell you think your on a quest with intention great and dire.
What purpose comes the boy to set beside this man
What goal has turned you child to this current bidden plan.

Now come and set by side and tell me the thing that you seek
I'll know the words the boy does own if he but simply speaks."

And child does start but slowly draws to side of man whose friend
The one he helped through forest sprawled and all the pathway's bends.
Beside the man the boy does set uneasy lays his heart
Yet still he pushes ever on to try and meet his part.

And turn the man from path he seeks though path he seeks was great
Yet still the child does think it wins yet naught but dieing fate.
Then sudden just as words do start to form inside his mind
Already man has spoke and ask what purpose current binds

The little boy at such a time to come unto his place
And also bearing such a speed along with sudden haste.

"Now speak my little child and do tell what's the thing that you seek
What causes boy to leave from his work and his senior meet?
What chore has bid your path to yet stray from preparing well
To go along to the mount and with village folks to dwell?

Are you come to turn my path as so many times before
And cause this man to stray and leave his battling chore?"

And boy now spoke yet quick in haste though word did bode not well
To turn the man from task he sought though task was great and fell.

"My cause your words have noted right
I come to turn the man from fight
And bring him far away from place
At quickest speed and fastest haste 

For fury fell atop this land
Will fall just like the seer had planned.
And man will also die at last
Pursuing current course and task."

But warrior simply shakes his head and further works his craft
He cared not still to face that beast and meet the kitsune's wrath.
He goes about and clips his tree not turning head aside
To boy that seeks to save his life the one that current bides