A/N:
Sorry it's been so long since I posted anything. Brain on the fritz! Oh
well, hope you like my poem, it's based on the rhyme scheme of "The Rhyme
of the Ancient Mariner" by Coleridge. Enjoy! I'll post more soon! Please
R&R!

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The Rhyme of Hitokiri Battousai

It was a lone aged samurai
Who halted my step to sea
"For what reason does your glittering eye
Stopp'st only me?

"The doors of the West are opened
And I am next in line
The sails are drawn, the anchor raised
I do not have the time."

He held me fast with shriveled hand
"There was a man," he said
"Hold on! Let go, you crazy fool!"
He released me for my dread

He held me there with knowing eye
And I stood frozen still
Listening as would a child
Left to the warrior's will

"The land was bright, the stormy night,
Had cleared the day before
And not a sound was heard around
As they stood upon the shore

A hundred right with sword and might
Stood fast upon the sand
Alone and sad there was one lad
To the left against the grand

The sun set red over the sea
As they faced him all as one
Some confused and some amused
They laughed at the peasant's son

"What is this, here in the mist?
Our enemy sent a child!
Ha ha! What's fools those Imperialists are
Such shame, they've been beguiled!"

I tried to flee, I tried to leave
But the man had me enwrapped
To thought and tongue, to taste the tale
Emotion nearly tapped

"The boy stood strong against the horde
Of men armed with their bows
A graceful hand from that young man
Pointed to his wicked foes

"You call me child, my leaders beguiled
But I am fully man
I swear by the light, you'll die tonight
And your blood will stain the sand!"

Across the shore came an uproar
As the hundred scorned the one
"This boy has lost his mind," they said
"Let's quickly get this done

"If we allow his voice to howl
This ranting will never end
Let's end his life before such strife
Leaves our own minds to mend."

So one and all they came to maul
The boy who challenge brought
But at second rate it was all too late
As the boy left each distraught

They looked around for sight and sound
But the boy had vanished quick
Seeing such speed caused them to seethe
And made their hearts grow sick

The boy appeared fast to the rear
And cut down left and right
Armored man with sword and ban
Eyes lit with death's delight

"How can this be? He's ten and three!
A boy weak as a bird!"
The samurai fearfully cried
"This has to be absurd!"

But the growing loom of impending doom
Cancelled that weak denial
For at long last each one had passed
Too gone for any revival

The boy stood alone upon the shore
A hundred bodies strewn
Across the scarlet bloodied sand
Red as the roses' bloom

A crimson shock lit up his locks
As the blood stained him as well
Gold eyes alight in the stormy night
Like a demon in the swell

The boy had changed, his heart deranged
Consumed by lust for more
The dripping sword ever implored
As it gleamed upon the shore

Down his spine the eerie lime
Of death perfumed the air
And he bitterly growled like a beast, and howled
Like a dragon within its lair."

I sat confused as my mind mused
Over the truth of this tall tale
"I say, samurai, if you don't mind
Tell me is this story real?

"Or have you conjured up some prank
To make me late for leave,
And make me miss my fleeting boat
While you sit there dully pleased?"

"No, no, good sir! I dare not lie
And keep you here for naught
In my old age I'm not estranged
Just, this tale is all I've got

So listen here, keep these words dear
For a moral they do hold
At the last word horridly chirred
For my story must be told."

I was not sure to stay or stir
To remain or leave with rate
As I lay behind so did my mind
The ship would have to wait

With a wave of hand I told the man
To continue with this fable
With lighted eyes, and I surprised
He sat grinning like a sable

"As I said, the boy, with dread,
Had changed from crown to sole
The balmy lad was profoundly mad
A wicked heart and soul

He stood at bay as the pine did sway
And the sea rolled in the tide
The boy stood still with iron will
His sword there by his side

The bloody fang with a wicked clang
Sneered at the boy's glazed eye
As if to say, 'you've lost your way
To men you have no tie

'Only to death and the dying breath
Have you sworn your very aim
To conquer all, and watch brave men fall
And smile as if it were game'

The boy refused to hear such muse
And threw his sword away
He fell to his knees, to pray and plead
For pardon of his stray

'I have done wrong, to this great throng
And took their lives in vain
To prove my power in this hour
And assure my lord's great gain

'Please take this force in your wake
Banish it from my heart
Let me not see the life-blood free
From good I shall not depart

'I wish not to leave men distraught
Nor to paralyze with fear
Let me live a normal life
And be with those so dear

'Never more shall I take the sword
And steal another life
Until the tie breaks and I die
Never shall I create strife

'From this day forth I shall show remorse
And turn my blade away
Protecting those, my secret undisclosed
From any who go astray

'I shall be a rurouni
And guard my friends with might
Protector of life not maker of rife
Shall I be for all my life!'

As reward for his abandoned sword
Was given him a reversed blade
But as punishment there was rent
A scar upon his face

A mark to show and for all to know
Of the deed that swept the land
And would deem sad the young lad
Though none may understand

But, with heart alight in the balmy bright
The lad went on his way
Leaving the terrible past behind
Until this very day

And here before you the lesson lies
Judge for yourself its sense:
'Let not power or prestige
Be your recompense

If lives are lost at your expense
What good is riches or fame,
If guilt shall haunt you all your life
And forever be your shame?'

At that the man took back his hand
And stood to leave at rate
I shook my head from my dream and said
A moment later, "Wait!"

"How can you leave with me bereaved,
With confusion and misery?
Don't stand there with me in despair
Tell the meaning of this to me!

You held me fast, my soul aghast,
Claiming it vital to my ear
Look at this! My ship I've missed
Tell me or I'll kick your rear!

Foolish, old, impoverish man
Tell me or I'll knock you dead!"
As I raised my fist to smite him
He let out a shout and said:

"You silly boy, I've made no toy
Of your attention here
I told you quick it is yours to stick
It is you who will make it clear!"

With that he fled around the shed
And vanished in the mist
I grumbled and I mumbled
And I clenched up hard my fist

I thought with resent of the words he sent
Drilling into my brain:
If lives are lost at your expense
What good is riches or fame,

If guilt shall haunt you all your life
And forever be your shame?'
What did that serene old goat mean,
With this moral bluntly plain?

I looked around at the sound
Of a foghorn blowing loud
I took my tote with a heave and the rote
Echoed from the chattering crowd

I saw the lad upon the sand
And the hundred falling down
When the boy sailed about, I paled
As he struck them to the ground

I thought, "Dear me, I'm blind to see
The meaning before my eyes
This lad learned hard of the troubles barred
That of taking innocent lives

May they be friend or foe I shall know
Not to raise my hand and strike
A fellow human creature
Never may I create rife."

I thought I heard a snigger chirr
From behind a crate of brand
That of the wry, aged, samurai
The crafty, crazed old man

I saw him leave before I breathed
A word, or a thankful tone
I leaped with fright as I heard a bright
Loud clang upon the stone

Left behind on the rocky lime
Was a beautiful sword, with which
I took up with strength and drew its length
And lo! The blade was switched!