For Paul’s Prompt at dVerse – soul searching
Onnabugeisha
Katsumoto: The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for one, and it would not be a wasted life. The Last Samurai
Trees blooming in the spring –
cherry, pear, plum –
their blossoms last for a day and then die.
Petals drift and fall to the ground –
pink and white snow of petals.
My lover called me “*onnabugeisha”
And so I am.
I fought my way through grief
through rape, through death
and even through ovarian cancer.
I swung my katana
and cut through them all.
And the timeless prayers
to an Ancient Hebrew God
I know healed me.
I learned that I did not need to fight.
All I needed was to bloom –
To soak up the rain and sun
and gaze at the blue sky.
I should have died I know.
But my petals hung on.
I continue to gaze at the sky
and to allow my soul to bloom.
*Japanese for female samurai or warrior*
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kanzen sakura 
Mar 20, 2018 @ 20:29:35
And you swing a pen. Powerfully.
Mar 21, 2018 @ 00:19:24
Toni, what an amazement of a poem…..and life story. Wow! You are indeed a warrior! I especially love the closing stanza, where you no longer needed to fight, but to bloom. Wow.
Mar 21, 2018 @ 00:20:35
I am blushing. Thank you.
Mar 21, 2018 @ 01:26:44
This is so deep it’s hard to find words to write in response. I just wanted to say that your poem really moved me and touched on my own struggles through life. Finding one’s own sword and learning how to use brings great strength.
Mar 21, 2018 @ 01:45:00
I echo the awe of the other comments. Your words are powerful and eloquent. You bloom with a strength I can’t help but admire.
Mar 21, 2018 @ 05:45:53
very nice – great image of the warrior tree – at peace at last – blooming.
Mar 21, 2018 @ 07:32:06
You take my breath away, Toni.
Mar 21, 2018 @ 07:51:54
Wow. You brought a truly deep soul to this poem Toni. I always remember the final scene from The Last Samurai when he realises they are all perfect. Always gets me.
Mar 21, 2018 @ 08:28:45
“I learned that I did not need to fight.
All I needed was to bloom – ” and that says it all, Toni.
Mar 21, 2018 @ 09:40:05
When we stop fighting and start blooming! Beautiful! Still figuring that out in my own life. Thank you!
Mar 21, 2018 @ 10:12:17
And what blossoms your blooming yields! Beautiful write, Toni! 🙂
Mar 21, 2018 @ 15:06:38
This is an amazing poem Toni, love the ties between warrior and bloom… I think in a life you need both some fighting and some bloom…
Mar 21, 2018 @ 15:09:57
I totally. At the time it seemed all I did was fight my way through life. It was a hard time for me. I have since learned about blooming. Life can still be hard but, at the same time it seems easier.
Mar 21, 2018 @ 15:53:34
Incredible, Toni. I like the whole symbolism of likening the tree blossoms to a katana-wielding samurai to a beautiful and rare soul.
“I should have died I know.
But my petals hung on.
I continue to gaze at the sky
and to allow my soul to bloom.”
What bravery!
Mar 21, 2018 @ 16:47:32
What a beautiful and profound poem: “I learned that I did not need to fight.
All I needed was to bloom”
Though it seems you did fight first–and perhaps there is always a struggle involved first before the bloom, but then, I suppose you have to sit back and absorb the sun and sky and let the blossoming begin.
Mar 21, 2018 @ 17:04:52
An excellent piece of soul gazing! I love how you have come full circle and through it all are still blooming beautifully …especially in you writing!
dwight
Mar 21, 2018 @ 18:28:38
This is a testament to the warrior spirit that seems to have a moment of awakening. In that moment a revelation that there is strength in a bloom and life in the vein of a petal. Profound…
Mar 21, 2018 @ 20:44:26
“All I needed was to bloom” — This is such a lovely reminder of what we are really here to do.
Mar 21, 2018 @ 20:52:21
Not to fight but to bloom ~ Love your personal journey Toni ~ You are an amazing soul, with warrior spirit ~
Mar 23, 2018 @ 14:33:02
I admire the strength of the spirit and the bravery that this poem painted.