...
(The Art of Fighting)
She lives life
With a vengeance
All spikes and steel
She looks at swords
And sees herself
Cold and sharp and ready to fight
.
Everyone insists that she's flawed
A chip in her edge
'If only you were a boy'
Her father says
And doesn't that hurt
She isn't a boy
But she is prepared
To show everyone that doesn't matter
.
When she meets the boy
She can't help but feel uneasy
And happy, too
He's a friend
(Or as close as it gets)
But she can feel his potential
He just needs a little push
To send him on his way
And she's not sure
She could keep up
(Which is why
She doubles her training
And always agrees to a fight)
.
She lives like a lion
All fearsome and strong
She just wishes
Everyone knew
That it's the female lions
Who hunt
.
She fights like a fighter,
thank you very much
It's not
'Like a woman'
Or
'Pretty good, for a girl'
It's not even
'Like she's a boy'
She fights better than all of them
.
When she fights the kid
He swings with a frenzy
Anger and strength
Bottled up in every blow
She doesn't think he notices
Every day
Her sword gives a little more
At the strike of his blade
(But it makes her happy
Because she's fairly certain
He is getting stronger
Rather than she getting weaker)
She hopes he never has to see her lose
To someone she has every right to win against
Because of her gender
(This more than anything
Causes her to curse fate)
.
She fights him every day
And makes him promise
One of them will be the greatest
Because she wants to know
When she gets older
The exact day
The Greatest Swordsman in the World
Was born
.
She lives life
All spikes and steel
And the world won't give her a break
.
But she wasn't expecting one,
And wouldn't have it any other way
She will clash and bend and maybe even chip
.
But she will not break