A Ballad of Samurai

Koyo-Te's Past and the Gisei Kiru

Read in landscape!!!

Beside the fire pit she sat unmoving form she bore
And kept a strange and noble grace though clothes like serfs were torn.
A woman bearing finer make like those from halls he left
Except for fact this shed was place the spinster's current kept.

Her eyes unmoving staring forth like person dead inside
Or steely vault that's placid made to many secrets hide.
There frozen child did watch for time to try and see what thing
Or purpose woman current held to in her house yet bring

The boy who present laid on mat and waited long for time
That child could rise and leave the room to foreign place yet find.
But after long no break had come that granted chance to leave
So boy does rise from bed to try and any exit see.

Yet still no movement spinster made though thing she sure did spy
Toward the door of hut he went to try and onward fly.
And just as child did outward reach he sudden heard a word
That briefly caused the boy to stop for thing his conscience stirred.

"It's so rude to leave the house of host who brought you in the night
Into her home from place you slept and sheltered you from spite
To quickly flee from the roof your give as soon as chance arose
Does speak of an ingrates ignoble ways who no honor owns."

The boy did stop and turned his head to see her still yet sit
And staring down the same before at smoke in fire pit
Uneasy feeling came to child but still he manners knows
So over to the spinster's seat the child does slowly go.

A dreadful feeling filled his heart but still he set by side
Of elder deep in mystery shroud and fear he deep did hide.
For long in silence both now sit not one or other shift
Then finally boy does open mouth and thanks her well for gift.

"I thank you crone for gift you gave
When spinster found me downward laid
And brought me back to home you wrought
When little good my safety brought

To spinster boy does fail to know 
Yet still with gratitude bestows."

And crone unmoved her face still fixed with gaze at fire unbroke
Though bearing peasant dress and home with noble voice now spoke.

"Thank me not I thought to slay you when first you're body to me came
And then again at many times my hand was tempt to claim
Your life before you woke but just a moment ago
To smother you in your deepest sleep, I debated well this goal.

For abstained vengeance I long have longed for from the warring man,
When first I saw you laying still as if the fates had planned.
To give you over to the depths at such a tender age
I thought that I for sure could slack my long abiding rage..."

And boy away from spinster drew in sudden startled fear
Now knowing next to gates of death he sure had lingered near
When resting deep in dreamless sleep in wilder places laid
That almost came to little else but low ignoble grave.

Yet still he lingered thinking sure his strength would keep him safe
Though woman bore unworldly air as though some phantom wraith.
He wished to know what cause had moved her heart to stay her hand
That drove the spinster back away from wicked killing plan.

"What reason held to claim my life
Would bid you place such harm and strife
On head of boy you've never known
What purpose gives the wolf to hone

It's fangs and claws on child as prey
Is crone some fell and foulish fey?"

Again unmoved she sat and stared her eyes on smoking flame
And speaking calm denied not fear by turning 'way his claims.

"Even if  I'm flesh and bone the woman before you sat
Yet still by feyish hatred great are my actions not begat?
Aren't people fey when they seek ironic ways to harm,
And bring on the heads of foes a great unceasing harm?