Gypsy - on the katana
The blade is perfectly balanced, sitting, sheathed across my palms. I can feel the laquer and the wrapping on the scabbard, the criss crossing lines of thread weave and the turn of the pattern against my skin. It doesn't look complex but I'd have no idea how to weave it myself. When Solomon looked for the maker's mark it read "Sensei" and the kanjii on the blade gave way to Romanii and left us both confused because the traditions weren't so traditional for this blade.
Sunlit wanderer.
When you were handed to my papa what did he say? Did he act surprised - I'd bet he was because he wasn't the sort who ever expected gifts, nevermind ones with honor attached. But he probably didn't say anything. I think in my mind's eye, as I make up this memory, that he took it and bowed deeply to a fellow warrior and an old friend.
I have never drawn this blade in battle, only a handful of times to inspect it and try to understand it before my thumb creased along the edge to stain it, then clean it, slide it back home. I know enough to listen to my teachers and I'm not far enough long to fight with it yet; the matter of honor hasn't been strong enough.
But I do keep it with me. I guess it confuses some folks. The romanii with the Japanese sword. I don't really mind. It's a little piece of him I can carry with me. I'm not sure if that makes any sense - I mean it's an object and not my father. I get that. But it's part of him, part of his story - a part I never really got to hear - and when it comes down to it I'm walking his path. Maybe not in his footsteps, but I took up the obligations and the honor he left and I'll keep carrying it as long as I can.
Sunlit wanderer.
When you were handed to my papa what did he say? Did he act surprised - I'd bet he was because he wasn't the sort who ever expected gifts, nevermind ones with honor attached. But he probably didn't say anything. I think in my mind's eye, as I make up this memory, that he took it and bowed deeply to a fellow warrior and an old friend.
I have never drawn this blade in battle, only a handful of times to inspect it and try to understand it before my thumb creased along the edge to stain it, then clean it, slide it back home. I know enough to listen to my teachers and I'm not far enough long to fight with it yet; the matter of honor hasn't been strong enough.
But I do keep it with me. I guess it confuses some folks. The romanii with the Japanese sword. I don't really mind. It's a little piece of him I can carry with me. I'm not sure if that makes any sense - I mean it's an object and not my father. I get that. But it's part of him, part of his story - a part I never really got to hear - and when it comes down to it I'm walking his path. Maybe not in his footsteps, but I took up the obligations and the honor he left and I'll keep carrying it as long as I can.