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Curse of the Onibaba
- Curse of the Onibaba -
Part One: Rival Hearts
A noblewoman of beauty in old Kyoto did dwell,
Near a Shinto temple, wherein would ring a bell…
The temple was abandoned, and none went near!
For it held a reputation, one of horror and of fear.
Clanging and banging, the bell would call at times,
Like a lost and forlorn lover, who eternally pines!
One day the bell tolled six times, an omen dark…
And a raven came to perch on it, black and stark.
The noblewoman saw this, but did pay it no heed,
Her mind was not on omens, but on another need.
For lovely was her sister, and often did compete,
Whether it was for clothes or sandals for her feet.
But more than this, they were rivals for lovers fair,
And one man in particular, they could not share…
For he was a Samurai, of nobility and great fame!
Only one sister could have him, to avoid shame…
And so, they schemed and plotted, in cruel ways.
Each topping the other, and so it went for days…
Until, at last, the older woman discovered a spell,
Taught to her by a sorcerer sent to her from Hell.
Part Two: Demon Mask
The sorcerer lived in the temple where he kept…
An ancient mask, with a power that darkly slept,
Waiting for the hand that would set it madly free.
The noblewoman was given it, and she did see…
How to thwart her sister’s plans once and for all.
The mask seemed to speak as she heard its’ call!
One day, she hid behind a wall in a marketplace,
Whilst wearing the demonic mask upon her face.
Her sister came walking by, expecting this not…
As the handsome Samurai was the only thought,
Upon the younger sister’s mind, on that fine day!
The older woman waited to make her sister pay.
She leaped out, pretending to be some monster,
As the mask unleashed its’ long-dormant power.
It melded with the face, of she who wore it so…
As the old temple bell rang; the winds did blow,
So that with a clang and a bang, a curse formed!
Clouds of ravens above the market so swarmed.
Seeing this, the younger sister let out a scream…
And ran from the demon, as if in an awful dream.
Part Three: Face of Fury
The older woman, tried to remove the vile face…
As she pursued her sister, giving a heated chase.
Though when she raised her hands to her head…
She felt demon flesh and bone, filled with dread.
Horns grew from her skull; fangs were her teeth,
Evil was in her heart, and it gave her much grief!
She had become the demon, the mask depicted.
Blaming her sister for her becoming so afflicted…
The noblewoman, decided to slay the girl entire!
Her voice had changed, and her heart was afire.
Growling and shrieking like the demon she was,
She caused all who saw her to run off because…
They thought her a monster: an ogress most fell.
Whilst in the old temple, the wind blew the bell!
Six times it so rang, before the Samurai arrived.
His drew his blade; against the monster strived,
Until at last the beast was slain, the curse lifted!
The Samurai wept, for the noblewoman dead…
At his hands, now stained with the tragic blood,
Of she who loved him when alive she so stood.
Part Four: Three Deaths
The younger sister went to the sorcerer for aid:
Hoping to resurrect her sister, though so afraid,
Of the price she would have to pay for magic…
To reverse the fate that had befallen most tragic.
But not one was there, except ravens that sang,
Their dirge-like cry, whilst the strange bell rang.
The Samurai was shamed by his violent deed…
Whilst the fault lay with she who died by greed!
In despair the younger sister bit off her tongue…
Allowing herself to choke on it, her life: undone.
The Samurai cut his belly open with his sword…
Choosing death over dishonor, in a pile of gore.
Three lives were taken by the sorcerer’s curse,
And, in some distant hell, they suffered worse…
Whilst people wondered where the mask went.
Those who had seen it knew not what it meant,
For its’ only power was to bring out one’s soul.
Thus the woman was a demon beyond control!
Jealousy had changed her, not some false skin,
And that was the true horror, of Onibaba’s sin.
Epilogue: Temple Ghost
They say that on certain nights, the bell sounds,
And you can hear things at the temple grounds.
Some claim Onibaba’s spirit haunts there still…
Searching for fresh victims, to catch and to kill!
Twisted even in death, by rage at her demise…
She yet seeks her sister, beneath evening skies.
Clanging and banging, the bell tolls how it may,
When the demon comes forth to hunt and slay!
Part One: Rival Hearts
A noblewoman of beauty in old Kyoto did dwell,
Near a Shinto temple, wherein would ring a bell…
The temple was abandoned, and none went near!
For it held a reputation, one of horror and of fear.
Clanging and banging, the bell would call at times,
Like a lost and forlorn lover, who eternally pines!
One day the bell tolled six times, an omen dark…
And a raven came to perch on it, black and stark.
The noblewoman saw this, but did pay it no heed,
Her mind was not on omens, but on another need.
For lovely was her sister, and often did compete,
Whether it was for clothes or sandals for her feet.
But more than this, they were rivals for lovers fair,
And one man in particular, they could not share…
For he was a Samurai, of nobility and great fame!
Only one sister could have him, to avoid shame…
And so, they schemed and plotted, in cruel ways.
Each topping the other, and so it went for days…
Until, at last, the older woman discovered a spell,
Taught to her by a sorcerer sent to her from Hell.
Part Two: Demon Mask
The sorcerer lived in the temple where he kept…
An ancient mask, with a power that darkly slept,
Waiting for the hand that would set it madly free.
The noblewoman was given it, and she did see…
How to thwart her sister’s plans once and for all.
The mask seemed to speak as she heard its’ call!
One day, she hid behind a wall in a marketplace,
Whilst wearing the demonic mask upon her face.
Her sister came walking by, expecting this not…
As the handsome Samurai was the only thought,
Upon the younger sister’s mind, on that fine day!
The older woman waited to make her sister pay.
She leaped out, pretending to be some monster,
As the mask unleashed its’ long-dormant power.
It melded with the face, of she who wore it so…
As the old temple bell rang; the winds did blow,
So that with a clang and a bang, a curse formed!
Clouds of ravens above the market so swarmed.
Seeing this, the younger sister let out a scream…
And ran from the demon, as if in an awful dream.
Part Three: Face of Fury
The older woman, tried to remove the vile face…
As she pursued her sister, giving a heated chase.
Though when she raised her hands to her head…
She felt demon flesh and bone, filled with dread.
Horns grew from her skull; fangs were her teeth,
Evil was in her heart, and it gave her much grief!
She had become the demon, the mask depicted.
Blaming her sister for her becoming so afflicted…
The noblewoman, decided to slay the girl entire!
Her voice had changed, and her heart was afire.
Growling and shrieking like the demon she was,
She caused all who saw her to run off because…
They thought her a monster: an ogress most fell.
Whilst in the old temple, the wind blew the bell!
Six times it so rang, before the Samurai arrived.
His drew his blade; against the monster strived,
Until at last the beast was slain, the curse lifted!
The Samurai wept, for the noblewoman dead…
At his hands, now stained with the tragic blood,
Of she who loved him when alive she so stood.
Part Four: Three Deaths
The younger sister went to the sorcerer for aid:
Hoping to resurrect her sister, though so afraid,
Of the price she would have to pay for magic…
To reverse the fate that had befallen most tragic.
But not one was there, except ravens that sang,
Their dirge-like cry, whilst the strange bell rang.
The Samurai was shamed by his violent deed…
Whilst the fault lay with she who died by greed!
In despair the younger sister bit off her tongue…
Allowing herself to choke on it, her life: undone.
The Samurai cut his belly open with his sword…
Choosing death over dishonor, in a pile of gore.
Three lives were taken by the sorcerer’s curse,
And, in some distant hell, they suffered worse…
Whilst people wondered where the mask went.
Those who had seen it knew not what it meant,
For its’ only power was to bring out one’s soul.
Thus the woman was a demon beyond control!
Jealousy had changed her, not some false skin,
And that was the true horror, of Onibaba’s sin.
Epilogue: Temple Ghost
They say that on certain nights, the bell sounds,
And you can hear things at the temple grounds.
Some claim Onibaba’s spirit haunts there still…
Searching for fresh victims, to catch and to kill!
Twisted even in death, by rage at her demise…
She yet seeks her sister, beneath evening skies.
Clanging and banging, the bell tolls how it may,
When the demon comes forth to hunt and slay!
Published 29th Jun 2012
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Anonymous
29th Jun 2012 2:59pm
1. thank you for changing your font....I can now read your poetry
2. your knowledge of Japanese mythology is very very good
3. If you can write this well - and I suspect you can...because I have looked at your previous poetry but could not see it very well...it seemed very good
4. I think you are way, way beyond many poets in every way......you are a MASTER
5. you are publishable
With great admiration
and Best Wishes
Kitty
2. your knowledge of Japanese mythology is very very good
3. If you can write this well - and I suspect you can...because I have looked at your previous poetry but could not see it very well...it seemed very good
4. I think you are way, way beyond many poets in every way......you are a MASTER
5. you are publishable
With great admiration
and Best Wishes
Kitty
1st Jul 2012 6:13am
Dear Kitty...
I have always had a great interest in the myths and legends of Japan. All my life, pretty much! I have long believed that I had lived a previous incarnation during the Feudal era, which is a subject I wrote about in a few of my recent poems, which I think you would also enjoy... if you have not already read and enjoyed them. ;)
Regarding the font, yes... the new font works much better for reading the poems. Some of my older ones sadly did not use so big a font as do my more recent works. It is good that I switched!
I thank you very humbly for calling me a master. I have been writing poetry now for many, many years and it makes me very happy to hear a true fan call me something so wonderful as that.
Actually, I have for a while now been in the process of putting together collections of some of my poems and short stories with the idea of one day publishing them. I have years worth of material to work with, so it is a massive task, but I think it may prove worth it in the end. I also have some lists of publishers on hand, so that when the time comes I can contact them and see what comes of things. I always take my time with projects like that though, so as not to ever compromise the quality of the work. So it was very timely of you to mention publication! :)
I am extremely happy that you commented on my poem, and that you enjoued it so very much. Feel free to comment of any of my works, any time.
Thanks for the good wishes too, my friend!
I have always had a great interest in the myths and legends of Japan. All my life, pretty much! I have long believed that I had lived a previous incarnation during the Feudal era, which is a subject I wrote about in a few of my recent poems, which I think you would also enjoy... if you have not already read and enjoyed them. ;)
Regarding the font, yes... the new font works much better for reading the poems. Some of my older ones sadly did not use so big a font as do my more recent works. It is good that I switched!
I thank you very humbly for calling me a master. I have been writing poetry now for many, many years and it makes me very happy to hear a true fan call me something so wonderful as that.
Actually, I have for a while now been in the process of putting together collections of some of my poems and short stories with the idea of one day publishing them. I have years worth of material to work with, so it is a massive task, but I think it may prove worth it in the end. I also have some lists of publishers on hand, so that when the time comes I can contact them and see what comes of things. I always take my time with projects like that though, so as not to ever compromise the quality of the work. So it was very timely of you to mention publication! :)
I am extremely happy that you commented on my poem, and that you enjoued it so very much. Feel free to comment of any of my works, any time.
Thanks for the good wishes too, my friend!
