Glass Samurai

I do have a confirm that this will appear, apropriately enough, in the forthcoming volume RONIN IN THE TEMPLE OF APHRODITE. How could it not?

Glass Samurai

I always thought that I would die
like some deranged glass samurai,
charging into battle ill-prepared.
But destiny, it laughs and smiles
and makes the inches into miles
and we cannot choose who is spared.

The coin is tossed, the battle lost,
and we just watched a Pentecost,
for we are not deific in our wrath.
I will recall with love and hope
what lays beyond the coiled rope
and try to face the tragic with a laugh.

I always knew that I would die
like some deranged glass samurai,
spinning legends on a blade of light.
Yet memory, it has its way
with those who thought they'd stop and play
and get back home before the falling night.

The tapestry unravels slow
but in the end the patterns go
to wind upon the spools from which they came.
And we are left to eulogize
what nature, in the end, denies:
That we can leave behind more than a name.

I always prayed that I could die
like some deranged glass samurai,
holding back the hordes for lovers' flight.
So we shall see, when falls the run,
if I could end what I'd begun
or played a pawn to rook or queen or knight.


William F. DeVault. all rights reserved.