Clash of Honor

Two warriors meet, blades are drawn
One Ronin, one Samurai
One walks his own path, the other a pawn
Their honor they seek to satisfy
The code they follow is the Bushido way
Muscles tensed, forward they rush
Blades collide in a flashing display
Close to death they brush
A horizontal stroke, a downward slash
The Ronin feints with a change of stance
And, again, the two swords clash
The Samurai missteps and the Ronin sees his chance
The water in the river ripples, the sakura sway
The duel ends and only one walks away

by Gray