As
long as the flower still blooms
by:
Mackenzie Wooldridge
xxxMy
father was a samurai. I remember him as
honor and duty and love in a great large
presence. He always did what he thought
was right. He worked hard to install those
virtues in me. I hope he has succeeded.
xxx
The
samurai Asakura Soteki sat alone. His head
was bowed as he meditated. A knock on the
door startled him from his reverie.
xxx
"
Enter." His voice was soft. A young
servant man bowed in the doorway. He
hesitated before he spoke.
xxx
"
My lord, the honorable shogun has summoned
you. You are to present youreslf at the
battlefield a week from now." He hesitated
once more, then backed out of the room.
The man sighed and stood slowly. He walked
out onto the porch and stared over the
rolling Japanese landscape. A small shape
ran towards him. A young girl grabbed a
handful of his kimono.
xxx
" Honorable father, you can't go! How will
I be able to run the house by myself?" The
man gently unclasped the girl's small
hands from his kimono. He kneeled down in
front of her and looked firmly into her
eyes.
xxx
" I will do as the honorable shogun has
commanded me, Nara. Just as I am going to
command you to do your best to take care
of the houshold." Nara hung her head as
tears made their way down her cheeks. She
nodded, bowed repectfully and walked
away.
xxx
That
night there was a great feast to celebrate
the lord's departure. They served dried
chestnuts, miso, kelp, awabi, white rice,
and tempura vegetables. The sake flowed
and the men got pleasantly drunk. They got
to bed at an ungodly hour and passed
out.
xxx
Soteki
stood outside with his daughter watching
the sun rise. The girl leaned her head
against his side and he laid his hand on
her head.
xxx
"
I don't want you to go, father. What if
you get killed?"
xxx
The
man contemplated his daughter's question.
His eyes wandered to the cherry tree.
xxx
"
Nara, do you see those cherry blossoms? At
the end of the year they will fade and
return next year. Such is life. In time it
will fade. But it will be when the purpose
of our life is done." The girl smiled
through more tears.
xxx
"I
understand father."
xxx
The
next morning the company rode off, leaving
only the marks of their horses' hooves. A
young girl waving into the distance with
all her might until they could no longer
be seen, then turned and walked back into
the house.
xxx
My
father never returned from battle. He was
killed defending a young servant. But I
never cried for him. I see the cherry
blossoms in the spring and I know he is
content.
Glossary
of Japanese words
kimono:
traditional Japanese clothing. It had
two layers, both usually made of
silk.
miso: a fermented soybean and rice
dish.
awabi: abalone
tempura: food dipped in batter and deep
fried.
sake: a wine made of rice.
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