deepundergroundpoetry.com
Lover of Mercy
- Lover of Mercy -
In the distance, over the tall mountains,
The sound of the old Taiko drums drone…
Thumping to the beat of distant thought.
I picture the gardens and the fountains…
Of proud Kyoto and the Shogun’s home.
Dare I picture the tears he had brought?
In silent shrines, the dark spirits will stir,
Shaking the earth, with their vengeance!
I know the places where they do confer,
The blackest power: for a dire penance.
I walk through the bamboo forests high,
My robes betraying no sound in passing!
I see the temple walls as I do draw nigh,
To the place where maidens sit, laughing.
Am I as beautiful as they, or am I more?
Time, has marked me, and so has war…
Until I cannot remember when I laughed.
Some called me angelic, others demonic,
But I represent a secret force, harmonic.
I must look to the future and not the past!
Where no Shikijin spirit could ever tread,
I was determined to enter, living or dead.
Those spirit servants could avail me not…
For to learn secret things: was ever my lot.
I needed no familiars to aid this, my task…
I would enter the temple, one boon to ask.
“Hail to the jewel in the lotus!
Goddess pristine, perfect, and pure…
In her is quenched all love and lust.
For mercy embraces all, never demure!”
The temple priests ask me for my blade,
But it is a part of my spirit, my very being.
They look in my eyes and they know fear!
Let me pass, I tell them, and they shake…
As I enter where the maidens kindly sing,
If kindness lives in words, that draw near.
Where is the goddess of mercy I do seek?
The one who can redeem my cursed soul,
And bring me the solace of her will, meek.
Only she can, my dark torments, console!
I place the talisman in the maiden’s midst,
And their song turns to screaming so shrill.
For from the talisman comes a deep mist…
Which no priestly prayers can ever dispel.
Come forth, goddess of mercy, I implore,
Open the gate; open the outer dark door!
Thunder cracks, the earth shakes so loud.
The priests flee into the night, of one mind,
Sheep with no shepherd that they can find!
Yet the maidens remain, their honor proud.
The spell of fear had not fully seized them,
Even where lay the small paper talisman…
Its’ inverted nine characters the stuff of evil.
Even so, the temple was becoming so still!
Only one force could counter such an art…
She who awaited me: with only loving heart.
“Hail to the jewel in the lotus!
Goddess pristine, perfect, and pure…
In her is quenched all love and lust.
For mercy embraces all, never demure!”
They wear the red and white of the shrine…
Long black hair tied in a bow so very cute.
But there is spiritual reason, for their attire!
Which one is the goddess, the lover mine?
My gaze pierces the mist, my sight astute…
Burning with fury, and blazing with my fire!
One stands and dares to face me, strongly,
Her graceful hand untying her long tresses…
But her eyes are smiling, merciful, lovingly.
She casts her garments off, and undresses!
Wearing naught but the mists, she steps on,
Towards me with determination uncanny…
Casting her arms wide, shining like the sun.
I drop my sword, to so accept my destiny!
The goddess bids me kneel and so I kneel,
My dark arts are blinded by what I do feel.
Compassion and mercy then overwhelm…
And a light from Heaven breaks the temple.
My curse is lifted: by a purity kindly simple!
In the arms of a goddess, my old pride fell.
I watched the talisman burn to ashen cinder,
As my thirsty gaze was lost only within her!
Let me slake your thirst for my compassion,
She said unto me in the most caring fashion.
The temple was no more and we ascended,
As this tale of redemption, is rightly ended.
“Hail to the jewel in the lotus!
Goddess pristine, perfect, and pure…
In her is quenched all love and lust.
For mercy embraces all, never demure!”
In the distance, over the tall mountains,
The sound of the old Taiko drums drone…
Thumping to the beat of distant thought.
I picture the gardens and the fountains…
Of proud Kyoto and the Shogun’s home.
Dare I picture the tears he had brought?
In silent shrines, the dark spirits will stir,
Shaking the earth, with their vengeance!
I know the places where they do confer,
The blackest power: for a dire penance.
I walk through the bamboo forests high,
My robes betraying no sound in passing!
I see the temple walls as I do draw nigh,
To the place where maidens sit, laughing.
Am I as beautiful as they, or am I more?
Time, has marked me, and so has war…
Until I cannot remember when I laughed.
Some called me angelic, others demonic,
But I represent a secret force, harmonic.
I must look to the future and not the past!
Where no Shikijin spirit could ever tread,
I was determined to enter, living or dead.
Those spirit servants could avail me not…
For to learn secret things: was ever my lot.
I needed no familiars to aid this, my task…
I would enter the temple, one boon to ask.
“Hail to the jewel in the lotus!
Goddess pristine, perfect, and pure…
In her is quenched all love and lust.
For mercy embraces all, never demure!”
The temple priests ask me for my blade,
But it is a part of my spirit, my very being.
They look in my eyes and they know fear!
Let me pass, I tell them, and they shake…
As I enter where the maidens kindly sing,
If kindness lives in words, that draw near.
Where is the goddess of mercy I do seek?
The one who can redeem my cursed soul,
And bring me the solace of her will, meek.
Only she can, my dark torments, console!
I place the talisman in the maiden’s midst,
And their song turns to screaming so shrill.
For from the talisman comes a deep mist…
Which no priestly prayers can ever dispel.
Come forth, goddess of mercy, I implore,
Open the gate; open the outer dark door!
Thunder cracks, the earth shakes so loud.
The priests flee into the night, of one mind,
Sheep with no shepherd that they can find!
Yet the maidens remain, their honor proud.
The spell of fear had not fully seized them,
Even where lay the small paper talisman…
Its’ inverted nine characters the stuff of evil.
Even so, the temple was becoming so still!
Only one force could counter such an art…
She who awaited me: with only loving heart.
“Hail to the jewel in the lotus!
Goddess pristine, perfect, and pure…
In her is quenched all love and lust.
For mercy embraces all, never demure!”
They wear the red and white of the shrine…
Long black hair tied in a bow so very cute.
But there is spiritual reason, for their attire!
Which one is the goddess, the lover mine?
My gaze pierces the mist, my sight astute…
Burning with fury, and blazing with my fire!
One stands and dares to face me, strongly,
Her graceful hand untying her long tresses…
But her eyes are smiling, merciful, lovingly.
She casts her garments off, and undresses!
Wearing naught but the mists, she steps on,
Towards me with determination uncanny…
Casting her arms wide, shining like the sun.
I drop my sword, to so accept my destiny!
The goddess bids me kneel and so I kneel,
My dark arts are blinded by what I do feel.
Compassion and mercy then overwhelm…
And a light from Heaven breaks the temple.
My curse is lifted: by a purity kindly simple!
In the arms of a goddess, my old pride fell.
I watched the talisman burn to ashen cinder,
As my thirsty gaze was lost only within her!
Let me slake your thirst for my compassion,
She said unto me in the most caring fashion.
The temple was no more and we ascended,
As this tale of redemption, is rightly ended.
“Hail to the jewel in the lotus!
Goddess pristine, perfect, and pure…
In her is quenched all love and lust.
For mercy embraces all, never demure!”
Published 13th Jan 2013
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Anonymous
13th Jan 2013 8:23am
WONDERFULLY dark and powerful, I couldnt help but receiving the image of a ceremony, it was like a celebration of the female power, its a bit Viking like, the Viking poems often mention the warrior soul, greatly written
I am happy you enjoyed this poem, dear Mourganna! It is dear to my heart, and has much meaning for me with both its' symbols and its' overall story.
Though it was set during Feudal Japan, there are countless similarities between the Samurai Spirit (which this poem is about) and the Viking Spirit. Both the Samurai and the Vikings expressed the beauty, honor, and elegant nature of the warrior soul and the immortality of that soul beyond all things. This poem was also, as you noted, a potent celebration of the Divine Feminine both in the person of the female Samurai (myself actually) and the goddess she is seeking to unite with (the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy - Kwannon, as she is known in traditional Japanese Buddhism). Kwannon is a very important goddess in my spirituality, so she figures prominently in quite a few of my poems, especially those taking place in Japan.
The type of magic that is worked in this poem, if you were wondering about it... is an unusual type of Japanese sorcery known as Onmyodo, which involves the use of familiar spirits and paper talismans that are inscribed with quite powerful spells. I have practiced that art a bit from time to time, though most often for protection against negative forces. Which is the light side of the art of Onmyodo. The dark side is entirely other, though in Onmyodo the principles of Yin and Yang and how they correspond to darkness and light are of primary importance in the creation of spells and talismans for whatever purpose the Onmyoji (sorcerer or sorceress) requires of the spell. A lot of western spiritual and occult symbols, such as the cross and the pentagram, are an integral part of Onmyodo, perhaps more so even than in many western occult traditions. This is because in that particular occult practice, symbols, lines, and hidden meanings convey much of the power in a subtle way that the casual person might not see. There is, of course, more to it than that but that is the *basic* gist of it.
To me, the Samurai Spirit is strongly linked to the mystical side of things... so a lot of that is conveyed in this poem, where the way of the Samurai is combined with the art of Onmyodo and then both are transcended when the Goddess of Mercy reveals herself. This is to show that mercy and compassion transcend honor, power, and spirit to create a brighter soul with greater nobility. So yes, this is talking about a ceremony of sorts and one that is not just about redemption but about transcendence beyond one's original state.
Though it was set during Feudal Japan, there are countless similarities between the Samurai Spirit (which this poem is about) and the Viking Spirit. Both the Samurai and the Vikings expressed the beauty, honor, and elegant nature of the warrior soul and the immortality of that soul beyond all things. This poem was also, as you noted, a potent celebration of the Divine Feminine both in the person of the female Samurai (myself actually) and the goddess she is seeking to unite with (the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy - Kwannon, as she is known in traditional Japanese Buddhism). Kwannon is a very important goddess in my spirituality, so she figures prominently in quite a few of my poems, especially those taking place in Japan.
The type of magic that is worked in this poem, if you were wondering about it... is an unusual type of Japanese sorcery known as Onmyodo, which involves the use of familiar spirits and paper talismans that are inscribed with quite powerful spells. I have practiced that art a bit from time to time, though most often for protection against negative forces. Which is the light side of the art of Onmyodo. The dark side is entirely other, though in Onmyodo the principles of Yin and Yang and how they correspond to darkness and light are of primary importance in the creation of spells and talismans for whatever purpose the Onmyoji (sorcerer or sorceress) requires of the spell. A lot of western spiritual and occult symbols, such as the cross and the pentagram, are an integral part of Onmyodo, perhaps more so even than in many western occult traditions. This is because in that particular occult practice, symbols, lines, and hidden meanings convey much of the power in a subtle way that the casual person might not see. There is, of course, more to it than that but that is the *basic* gist of it.
To me, the Samurai Spirit is strongly linked to the mystical side of things... so a lot of that is conveyed in this poem, where the way of the Samurai is combined with the art of Onmyodo and then both are transcended when the Goddess of Mercy reveals herself. This is to show that mercy and compassion transcend honor, power, and spirit to create a brighter soul with greater nobility. So yes, this is talking about a ceremony of sorts and one that is not just about redemption but about transcendence beyond one's original state.
