A Ballad of Samurai

News of a Siege

Read in Landscape!!!

And quick across the countryside the little child did go
On pumping legs he bid not stop to former held abode.
With pounding heart and fearful dread he dared not halt his race
He took across the rolling land at fastest speed and haste.

For ventures took the former day had many trials brought
Along with wonders filling land that highest fear yet wrought
So on he wended back to place he briefly 'fore forsook
On back to master's hobbled home where first the boy was took.

With only moonlight lighting path to village boy does fly
Not daring utter word aloud for fears of dangers lied
In depths of Nihon's comely lands a false façade now shown
As merely beauty made to trap what men might dare to roam

It's realms though realms does welcome such like lure welcomes prey
So on do roam unwitting folk too soon in grave be laid.
Now finally boy to overlook of village pausing comes
The restful place yet far from fear does leave him stricken dumb

It's yellow lights on streets and ground do cast a comely tint
Against the purple blue of night it's calm allure hints
Of refuge far from danger found in wilder lands by child
And bids him come to rest himself from forces dark and wild.

So forward boy does go on path he former took with man
Who brought him forth from castle keep as child's own father planned
Through winding roads he crept as fast as silent steps allow
To try and hide his venture took from prying peasant crowd.

And up the winding way again to hobbled shack now far
From peasant place though close enough that eldritch things are barred
From coming forth and haunting child as done in wilder lands
Not far from village little boy does current keep and stand

But once the child arrived at home, he saw a light was lit
Through window shape of man beside a table current sits.
He pauses seeing sight of one from which he outward ran
In depth of deepest night into the reach of foreign land.

Will anger held by man who waits inside the peasant home
Yet cause the warrior former feared to little boy disown?
But child does know that forward path's the only trail that's left
So through the door he creeps inside with skill he thought adept.

He pauses brief to stare at work his master current made
Before the man a bonsai tree with many clippings laid.
He turns to onward sneak to bed he left in depths of night
In hope that boy can lengthen time before confronting slight

He gave to master leaving home that warring man had shared
When bidden by the chief of clan for child to take and care.
And briefly boy's now filled with hope that quick to sleep he'll go
At least he knew for current night that child might claim abode

Inside the little broken shack that boy into was brought
At least for briefest time some haven safe for night be wrought.
But sudden shifted warring man who spoke in voice that's calm
Yet still was stern so thing did serve as little healing balm.

To calm the nerves of boy who knew he folly great had made
When rising up and sneaking out from bed in which he laid.

"Silence of steps but a pounding of heart
Prove that you played to a mischiefous part.
Sneaking from master who's bidden to hone
All of the skills that you're bidden to own.

Tell me what made you return to my keep
Deep in the night while we should be asleep."

And hearing words the boy's own heart does leap inside his throat
Now fearing daunting question man who kept him current spoke.
For child did know the answer gave would either help or harm
His case to stay in shack for night yet far from great alarm.