For Bjorn’s prompt on Real Toads – Entropy and Thermodynamics. We’ll see how I did. This is unusually long for me. It is a true story from my past and interest in all things Japanese, including a long gone lover. I’ve included a bit from The Last Samurai with the ho-hum Tom Cruise and the ever dynamic and sexy actor (and martial artist) Hiroyuki Sanada. I will also be posting this on Poets United Poetry Pantry. Now imagine this battle with swords instead of bokken…yeppers
Battle
“Even after it all, would you dance with me again in the eye of the storm?” Dianna Hardy, Reign Of The Wolf
August…
hot stuffy steamy icky August
I am in the backyard practicing my kata…
and dripping, nay, running rivers of sweat.
“You’ll never finish if you keep stopping
to drink water and to wipe off”
I restrain myself from throwing my katana at him.
A light breeze and the strong whiff of
petrichor –
I smile…storm is coming.
A frisson of cool air brushes my skin.
I sheath my sword and run up the steps
to the back porch.
My lover puts his hand on my chest and stops me.
He was calm, I was building like the storm.
I tell him it is hot as fuckos, I was through practicing
And I.Was.Going.Inside.For.A.Shower.
He blinks slowly.
With the quickness of lightning
he pulls his sword and with a few strokes
drives me out into the now
Monsooning rain.
I pull my sword and begin fighting back,
being pushed back to the fence.
He slips on the slick fieldstones –
I put in a hard slash…And stop…horrified.
He puts his hand up to his ear,
blood running onto his white tee shirt
and dripping through his fingers.
Sonofabitch. You cut off my earlobe.
nervously I begin to laugh.
He frowns and then grabs me, begins kissing me.
There we stand in the rain
swords in our hands,
clothing and hair drenched, clinched.
The bomb has exploded –
now the rain is washing away
the sweat the blood the anger.
We sink down onto the gravel…
we don’t forget to sheath our swords.
Mar 31, 2018 @ 23:10:21
Wonderful! Loved the scene, from beginning to glorious end.
Mar 31, 2018 @ 23:11:03
🙂
Apr 01, 2018 @ 00:29:14
I had to smile when sheathing the swords had priority over enjoyment. Sort of like folding ones clothes and arranging them on a chair. Haha. This to me Toni, was a pleasant read while trying to out guess each well written line.
..
Apr 01, 2018 @ 01:59:35
This is like a scene from a movie, half remembered and recalled for the thrill of vicarious romance. Lovely.
Apr 01, 2018 @ 03:22:34
What an astonishing story. It does read like a scene from a movie.
Apr 01, 2018 @ 07:40:29
The paroxysm of the fight unclenches into the sated drowse. All is rare in love and war. Love the image of holding swords and kissing.
Apr 01, 2018 @ 10:07:15
Thank you. It happened frequently, lol
Apr 01, 2018 @ 07:43:16
I agree with Kerry, perfect for movie with the strong passion with that perfect control of sheathing the swords before going back. When cooling off comes with such romance it’s perfect.
Apr 01, 2018 @ 10:04:32
Thanks Bjorn. But in this case it was mandatory that passion be halted for just long enough to sheath the swords. When a sword is forged in the old way one does not let it lie about in wet grass…😉
Apr 01, 2018 @ 08:47:05
Wow!!
Apr 01, 2018 @ 12:58:09
Oh my!
Apr 01, 2018 @ 13:06:23
being an old engineer, give me a sciency prompt and I go wild – every time. 🙂
Apr 01, 2018 @ 19:23:42
Wonderful poem! You made it all so immediate.
I’m not a fan of Tom Cruise, but as an actor he always surprises me by being better than I expect. I loved “The Last Samurai”.
Apr 01, 2018 @ 20:44:29
As did I. It was on my list of favorite movies. But I agree. He always surprised but he plays well of his co-stars
Apr 02, 2018 @ 08:26:00
What a magnetic scene!
Apr 03, 2018 @ 03:05:56
—-
Apr 02, 2018 @ 08:41:21
Wow you painted this scene perfectly!
Apr 03, 2018 @ 20:18:56
Lovely piece!