He lay face down on the ocean beach sand

Clutching a throwing star in his hand

A sound from behind I thought he was dead

For under his heart lay a shuriken

But a spark still burned so my hand lashed out like a knife

And late that night I saved the life

Of Tygre

Well I nursed him till the danger passed

With herb and acupuncture he mend at last

And then from dawn till gloom of night he'd practice and practice

Till again it was light

Hour after hour I'd watch in awe

No human being could stand at all

Against Tygre

Well the days went by and we parted at last

And I went east and he went west

I took bushido and my name grew far

While he spread terror from bar to bar

I knew someday we'd face the test

Which one of us would be the best

And sure enough the word came down

That he was working out over in China-town

Well I Left the students back at the school

And I went in alone to meet

Tygre

They say my speed was next to none

But my lightning strike had just begun

When I felt the wind brush by my face

I turned and spun at a lightning pace

And I was looking into the eyes

Of the deadliest killer alive

Tygre

Well they say that was the only time that anyone had seen him smile

He slowly bowed his head to me and said

We're even Sensei

And then at last I understood

That a bit of bushido was still good

In Tygre

I blocked the path of his retreat

He turned and lashed out with his feet

Thunder and lightning crashed and then

A moment later

He lay dead

The students all began to shout and cheer

No where lay a shed of tear

For Tygre

Well that's how it happened

Or so the legends say

And it was just the years it's said that made me give my school away

But legend nor man

None can explain

The faded black belt above the name

Of Tygre

by Sensei J. Richard Kirkham
Published 9/30/99

Thank you for your support

Rick

Sensei J. Richard Kirkham B.Sc.

The Martial Art Adventures of Koa The Modern Warrior

Martial arts short stories centered around Koa which means warrior in Hawaiian and The Stranger. Also feature various Gods and Goddesses Feel free to browse or submit your own

http://kirkhamsebooks.com/ShortStoriesNPoems/MartialArts/Koa/index.htm

Short Stories and Poems

http://kirkhamsebooks.com/ShortStoriesNPoems/index.htm

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