| The Samurai's Clothes A look at ancient tradition Traditions for its own sake Something like a stone garden Thousands of small stones raked in little rows To what end Just to start and rake again For traditions sake Move every leaf To its proper form A measured step A slow turn Like a drip of water Falling down Cool thoughts of a land gone bye A puff of breeze wets the eye The ruffle of starched hakama The geta makes a slow march Echo each step in the court yard The new old one slowly approaches The tatami all in rows The quick sound of iron on wood The wind on the blade makes a sound understood The cut so quick and pure of form Like a fan of steel attached to an arm The tatami parts like a smile As it slowly falls to the tile The blade recoils like a snake All sinew and muscle back in place The cut was good Perfect in form The sword has become part of his arm A slow smile comes to his face Something that comes from honoring this place Raking the rocks and a slow pace Tending the plants Feeding the fish Gaigen wearing a samurai's clothes Schwarzer 2008 |