A/N: Another of Splinter's drabbles that didn't quite fit. This one was originally written from Leonardo's point of view. In the interests of giving each Turtle a place in The Lost Drabbles, I adjusted it to fit Don. The original title was Shi, which means "poem".

Please note: Speaking of Excellence, I'm going out of town today to attend a very special, sure to be Turtley-awesome graduation, and will return on Tuesday. Diva Danielle will be posting the remainder of this set. Thank you Danni!! hugs

Review replies will be sent after I'm home again. Danni has enough trouble reviewing, without fussing over replies. ;)


The Lost Drabbles: Tengu

Chapter 2 ~Excellence: Donatello~

Shadow. Fur. Comfort.
A worn robe. Strong hands. Safety.
He is my father.

I was ten. Sensei stared at the poem I'd written so long, I began to feel fidgety, though I did my best to hide it. Was he disappointed? Finally he drew a deep breath, and when he looked at me, his eyes were smiling.

Well done, Donatello.

When Splinter was teaching us to write, he had us make up our own haiku. Poetry is such an ingrained part of his culture, of our heritage. Haiku is a uniquely Japanese art. It's incredibly difficult to master because it's not just about the number of syllables in each line, it's also about the "beats", the feeling of the words as they flow together, and about the whole. Each word must be meticulously chosen, specific, in tune with the greater picture. One wrong word can throw the entire thing out of whack.

Watching Splinter work through the katas, I am continually both amazed and frustrated. Amazed at the precision, his ability to hold each pose, and move so fluidly into the next it's like watching smoke shift shapes; and frustrated by my own clumsy attempts to follow his movements. Fortunately, Splinter is patient, working with me to perfect my forms until the exercises come as naturally as the calligraphy brush gliding across the paper.

He is my Sensei, my teacher, my mentor. He is my example, the one I strive to live up to. He is my father.