A Ballad of Samurai

Challenging the Kitsune

Read in landscape.

And high atop the mountain trails the whole of village sped
Who knew the kitsune's wrath now came and fled from homes in dread
For none among them dared to stay and fight for stead and land
As all did know the ancient word no living hand of man

Would slay that dreadful fox like beast no matter skill it bore
Or years it honed the killing crafts though time has onward wore.
So forth they went on path from home no thought to save the land
But fly and hide the only goal they deem succeeding plan.

And none about the whole their eyes onto their homes did cast
But all were bent on doing thing that's deemed a fleeing task.
And great's the time that came and went on road they current took
Until yet high from winding road on former homes they look.

That soon the wrath of kitsune's rage would fall atop and hurt
For sake of unknown want and ploy performing ancient work
Of wrack and ruin brought atop the whole of land it dwells
So terror raises up yet high in hearts of all yet held

Inside the grip of coming doom that bids the heart to fear
The rage of coming wrath that draws yet ever quick and near.
And down on town the boy does stop and looks at thing they left
Of all the comfort men had lost yet soon to lay bereft

Of any form or comely shape by hand of eldritch force
That comes about like raging winds as heed by nature's course.
And long the image held below the sight of boy entranced
As gentle winds atop the field did make the grass yet dance.

But pot that's watched does never boil bringing dread to end
Nor sooner sight of ruined homes does staring cause to wend
Yet closer still to time where beast descends and takes his fill
And all that lays below their road the beast would surely kills.

So still they went though turning back was thought that all did hold
But none amidst the whole of men did dare a deed so bold.
So time did grow along with dread that filled their mortal hearts
That none amidst the whole of tribe could work a killing art

To stop the loss of all they gained across the many years
Nor staunch the flow this thing has brought in form of many tears.
Then sudden sound erupted loud behind the whole of folk
Relief from waiting gave to dread as chaos quick now broke.

On line of sky they saw the clouds and heard the thund'rous sound
That told the whole the fox now came and soon to homes he's bound.
So quick they hasten steps again though tempt to cast their eyes
And try to see the loss below but none do dare to pry.

Their feet are sped as darkness grows the skies unnat'ral change
Does show the work of malice wrought in way so very strange.
And only child has courage gave again to dare and see
The sight of lands that laid below for which their very grieved.

And sight he saw with wonder great that caused his heart to churn
That filled his heart with wonder high at fate they current spurn.
Below them stood the warring man alone in swaying grass
In front of village stood about to do his slaying task.

With stoic form that fails to sway or give itself to wind
Intent to do as code had bade and kitsune's life to end.
He gazed with harden eyes at beast as thing then nearer grew
And ready still for battling part his blade already grew.

Though many leagues between them came still eyes of creature fell
The man alone is grassy field the foxlike thing beheld
Unlike the men he'd slain before this time he eyes did hone
Direct atop the warring man who magic blade did own.

With pace a steady beat and plod it came across the hills
And man intent to kill this beast remained yet stoic still.
Until at last in field he stood the pair of foe did head
And neither showed a words or sign that spoke of any dread.