across 

the belle tide 

ambrosia

                        scented marigolds

streams of spring water 

        and the headless 

                                   body of a shogun samurai

through the marsh reeds

two peasants run 

                                      carrying armor

                   and swords

hungry 

and filled 

 with thoughts 

                of rice and sake 

                                   running for the fields

                when they met twelve 

                                  men from the shogunate

and were killed upon discovery 

their blood dripped 

thick and shiny 

on the green grass