Tag Archives: honor


4 Feb

The knight fastens his armor
And sheaths his sword
And rides into battle
Against the oncoming horde

Swords and shields clash
And the warrior battles
Till the life leaves his eyes
And the death bell rattles

The Brave smears war paint
Across his stone cheek
Against the enemy’s rifles
His chances are bleak

But he draws back his bow
Fires into the blue
Defends his home land
Till bullets rip through

The Sarge laces his boots
And slaps a clip in
“You wanna live forever?”
He barks with a grin

He bursts on the beach
Unleashes gunfire
Fights till his last breath
Amid the blood and the mire

The father kisses his babies
Then kisses his wife
He’s off to the factory
To make a new life

He works himself ragged
To pay for their food
Till his bones and his sinew
Have all come unglued

The daughter cancels her plans
To be with her mother
Just a night out with friends
There’ll be another

She caresses her forehead
With a cool and wet towel
Mother gives a warm smile
Through the cancer’s cold scowl

These are warriors
Who give of themselves
And not for rewards
To stack upon shelves

They don’t do it for riches
Or glory or laws
They do it for love
That’s the warrior’s cause



The Scorpion and the Frog

16 Nov

The Scorpion and the Frog

There was a frog who swam along
The river one fine day
He came upon a scorpion
On the shore in dismay

“What seems to be the trouble?”
The frog asked with some concern
“I need to cross the river!”
The sharp-tip tailed one did yearn

“Would you be so kind and give
A ride upon your back?”
The frog thought, then thought twice, then thrice
And cautiously said back:

“I’m not so sure that would be wise
I fear that you would sting
And I would sink and drown since I’m not
Much for snorkeling

“Don’t be silly!” the scorpion said
“I’d sink along with you!
I can’t swim or breathe submerged
To do so, I’D be through!”

“Hmmm,” the frog thought to himself
“That’s true, you’d drown as well
Ok, I’m always pleased to help
Climb on board for a spell!”

“Thank you!” scorpion said with joy
And creeped upon the back
‘Bout halfway ‘cross the river
The passenger did attack

The tail snapped down and stinger pierced
The frog and he went numb
“Why?” he asked with shock and sank
Surprised at the outcome

“Because,” the scorpion replied
With apathy so cold
“I am a scorpion, it’s in my nature
In my mould”

“But you’ll drown too!” the frog gurgled
As they hit river bed
“It’s what I do, I cannot change”
And soon they both were dead


You’ll Have To Kill Me

18 Sep
You’ll Have To Kill Me
There was a Warrior named Peace
The irony was grand
Other’s threats would not surcease
Fore he would take a stand
There would be those who’d warn of pain
But Peace said, “Not enough
Unless it’s death, it’s all in vain”
He’d boldly call their bluff
“Financial ruin!” some would crow
But Peace would then retort
“While I still breathe there is no woe”
Those threats young Peace would thwart
Time and time again they’d try
To strike fear in his soul
But Peace would never quake or cry
He’d dare a tougher goal
“You’ll have to kill me” he would give
A warning of his own
“You’ll win when I no longer live
When I am dust and bone”
And this is how young Peace did learn
That cowards don’t spill blood
They do not fight or cut or burn
Each threat is just a dud
Words used to intimidate
The comfort-addled weak
Quick to threaten, scold, berate
And dishearten the meek
But when a Warrior does raise
The stakes to death and life
These threateners are in a daze
So few unsheathe their knife
What they desire has low cost
They’re unwilling to pay
The price of fury and exhaust
To get their selfish way
Times have changed and very few
Are called to pay that price
They’ll use just words to threaten you
But never will they slice
They’ll talk and talk but never pound
They’ll urge but never slit
In idle threats no one has drowned
At least, no one with grit

Love Thy Enemy?

30 Dec

Love Thy Enemy?

I’ve seen a couple folks who feel their spirit has been roused
Their inner Warrior’s awakened as my writes were browsed
They warn how all those before them should beware what’s to come
They threaten others because “A Warrior I have become!”
How sad and misguided to have missed the point so badly
But deep inside the heart, nothing but pure love should emit
Posturing and performance may be required to
Dissuade the ignorant normals who know not what they do
But deep inside where no one sees, there must be empathy
To say “I understand you even if I don’t condone”
A Warrior is so plugged in, connected, so aware
That though sometimes they inflict pain, to do so causes wear
It is a choice that’s made with great deliberation since
To cause pain to another person causes SELF to wince
Most who have not awakened don’t suffer the effects
And you can’t start an argument or have it come to blows
That is why after the rush, eventually you’re drained
‘Cause even the most self-absorbed, egoic person feels
Empathy for all those villains, scoundrels, tricksters, heels
So when you feel like talking tough about how they will pay
Be sure to take a moment and mention your own dismay
Perhaps if you would ponder self-destruction, you’d relent
You wouldn’t be so quick to fight a years-long argument
Instead focus all of your strength on the great war within


Nurture Thyself

28 Dec

Nurture Thyself

Black tar coating lungs and grease within arteries clogged
An irritated attitude, frustrated and hostile
That does reside within them, that love quickly turns to hate
When they don’t get their way, they grow offended and irate
And all because they’re weakened by the lack of nurturing
The failure to treat their body like it’s a Queen or King
To love thyself means to encourage your own health and strength
To stimulate, develop, foster, go to any length
To sacrifice in order to fuel love’s demanding fire
Your glowing skin with pinkish hue will serve as your expression
Your wide awake and alert eyes will provide your reply
Your focused thinking, energy, cheer and joy will reply


Strength in One

3 Jul

A common response I hear is “everyone’s doing it” when someone is making an excuse for taking a short cut, laziness, disrespect or something to that effect.

When I respond with, “Not everyone,” the common response is, “Well that’s you.” I’ve had this discussion so many times I’m bored to tears of it by this point. The people who justify their behavior because “everyone is doing it” have already made up their minds. If an exception is presented, they’ll simply disregard it. That person must be crazy, because “everybody’s doing it!”

And that’s what I find so peculiar about the human mind. At first, “Everyone’s doing it!” begins as an excuse; an admission that something has gone astray, but whatcha gonna do? However, when they’re proven wrong that some choose to think for themselves and not follow the ignorant herd, they turn it around and try to make the disreputable act out to be a *good* thing, and anyone who would choose to not following along with the vast majority must have something wrong with *them*.

It’s like when a riot breaks out. “Everybody” joins in, because “everybody” is doing it. Most don’t want to come off as lame or unpopular, so they play along. If someone speaks up and says, “This doesn’t work for me. It’s weak behavior,” that person is chastised. Why? Because “everybody’s doing it!”

Somewhere, somehow, the old rule of “Strength in Numbers” has been corrupted and perverted into what we see today. I have rarely seen what I would consider “strength” in groups of 2 or more people. Idiocy, ignorance, selfishness, fear or egotism in numbers? Absolutely.

Strength in numbers? Rarely. Unless that group is wearing camouflage and carrying assault rifles, it usually devolves into the “Group Think” mentality. The greatest strength is usually in just one.

Stay strong,

21 Maxims of a Wandering Samurai

25 Aug

1. Accept everything just the way it is.
2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.
4. Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.
5. Be detached from desire your whole life long.
6. Do not regret what you have done.
7. Never be jealous.
8. Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.
11. In all things have no preferences.
12. Be indifferent to where you live.
13. Do not pursue the taste of good food.
15. Do not act following customary beliefs.
17. Do not fear death.
21. Never stray from the Way.

~Miyamoto Musashi, Samurai

21 Maxims of a Wandering Samurai

In fifteen-hundred eighty-four a Samurai was born
Who would become a Ronin and thereby received much scorn
A Ronin is a Samurai who’s masterless, you see
It was quite frowned upon for these Warriors to be free

But Miyamoto knew these twenty-one things to be true
And didn’t need a master to adhere, follow, pursue
He followed his own inner truth and went where the wind blew
And now his maxims have blown your way to inspire you

You do not need to follow them because I told you so
You’ll follow ‘cause they are all truths that you already know
Twenty-one maxims which plainly state truths we may not
Want to follow, some might be resisted, even fought

Because they fly in the face of comfort and luxury
But these are truths that no one can dispute or disagree
To understand, to be selfless and make your anguish cease

Twenty-one steps followed by a Ronin Samurai
Musashi would not accept anything as a disaster

And that was twenty-one maxims that Musashi compelled
Himself to follow and now you can follow them as well