Kiai

And so I was given the bamboo blade and told to scream.

I was most naturally overwhelmed

for anyone who has been forced to struggle mutely

and whose fights were silenced

knows the luxury of a battle cry.

I took the chance and used it up to its fullest.

And so I shouted,

picturing all which has to be fought,

all the idiocy, the ignorance, the arrogance, discrimination, oppression

and many other foe to face.

I wished upon an opponent

who would cross blades with me

but against the very same foe.

And so I roar.

“Men!” for all the free spirits who lost their heads or lives

to the sin of thinking undesirable ideas.

“Kote!” for all the pens and hands broken,

bans, censorship or self idolization of any authority be the cause.

“Dou!” for all who were broken for standing firm and still

and standing up to oppression and unjust.

“Tsuki!” for all the voices that were silenced;

in prison, death or exile, under torture or threats.

And thus my battle cries get louder

as their hands hold mines, holding on to a bamboo blade.