A Ballad of Samurai

The Adoption of Naegi by Koyo-Te

Needs to be read in Landscape!!!

Now far across the ocean lays a land of teeming shores
Where lived an ancient warrior clan of men with crooked swords.
Who fiercely trained their mortal forms and strengthened hard their backs,
And used yet every hour gave to hone their battle craft.

To feudal liege they honor yield along with very life,
And pledged to march on orders beyed to meet his foes in strife.
Where often men in battle met with cruel and bitter end
When Shogun served yet bid them go and down to death did send.

But none amidst their ranks would flee or wander far from lord
For every warrior's born to die by either self or sword.
On gilded leash these men were kept by comfort lives were bought,
And held a rank above their folk that many others sought.

For wealth and privilege men did gain through facing down their foes,
And lived a life that's filled with death though thing did grant them woe.
Yet on by duty trained from birth they ever far were drove,
And still the pride of warring law their hearts to battle goad.

Amongst them all was favored clan yet one so high in deed
Who always bent to Shogun's will and worked to fill his needs.
And age on age their house was held and son by son was sired
Who all a talent bore for blade no greater skill desired

In all of Nihon's homely halls across it's rolling lands
No greater warriors shogun found in all the other clans.
Yet day did come when babe was born to chieftain lord of home
Who bore no strength or skill with arms that any kin could hone.

So years did pass and thing they knew did greater grow in eyes,
And child of high and chiefly liege did quick become despised.
Till finally elders council called to speak to fate of boy
In hopes to rid themselves of child through harsh but cunning ploy.

In wooden fortress warriors met like eastern lords of old,
From ages past before these men, here planed they battles bold.
Against the child in halls of war the leading elders plot
And thought on all the secret ways that will of clan be wrought.

For long they vied in stately court deciding fate of boy,
And many men inside those halls did voice a many ploy.
Yet none prevailed or forced their will, though trained in speech and tact
Not one did sway the others' view on any single act.

So great impasse did fall on plans they made to rid the child
For none inside their ancient halls could think of thing so vile,
But rose amidst the men yet one who told them all his thoughts
Of way their princely house might gain the thing of which they sought.

"Pounding drums and bamboo flutes
Signal well and our eastern roots
Telling all to still their voice
Low so clansmen make their choice.

Hear me well my fellow kin
Time has come to plan our sin.
Boy we speak of's frail and weak
Filled with manners very meek.

Better lord our house will need
Far in time when all will heed
Will of future chief in war
Off when sent to battling chore.

Surely men should slay the child
Lo though act be very vile.
Babe will ruin all our plan
Bringing hurt on whole of clan."

And voices raised in great discord that's stoked by words of fiend
For many men his point yet saw though sorrow great it brings.
Yet liege and father silent sat his will unknown to all
He neither words nor motion made though chaos great did sprawl.