
Legend holds that the kamikaze, or “divine wind,” prevented the Mongolian invasion of Japan in 1281, as depicted in this 19th-century piece by artist Issho Yada.
Photograph by Koji Nakamura, National Geographic
This poem is based on an article I read on the National Geographic website which you can read here
The fleet set sail on calm waters
Full of the arrogance of the conqueror
For all had fell before their might
The Japanese would now fall to their sword
But the people of the east had a weapon
One given by the gods
Who would deter all invaders
And send them to the depths of the sea
So the Khan’s Armada near their destination
All eager to fight and kill
But dark clouds and rough seas gather
Slowly at first, like a rolling drum
And then the winds pick up
The men on the ships grow nervous
As the seas build in ferocity
And the skies call with daemonic howls
Suddenly the men are scared
For nothing like this have they heard
Most make the sign against evil
Wishing to be back on land
Whilst not far off an old man chants
Praying to keep the invaders at bay
Calling on the Kamikaze to come
To defend his land and his people
The winds roar now, howling even louder
Screaming at the sea below
The rage building into something more
A power beyond mortal knowing
The men on the ships panic
Not knowing what to do
All hands battle for their lives
Whilst some fight against forces they cannot defeat
And then the Kamikaze reaches full force
Tossing the little ships like twigs
Bashing them into the waves
All hands lost to the depths
But a handful of survivors float on
After the storm has calmed
Gripping onto wreckage for dear life
Thankful they had been spared
They will reach land
And go home to tell their tale
Of how Gods destroyed their Armada
How the lands they tried to invade are protected
The Khan will not be so there
He has failed to conquer
The survivors may die for their survival
For telling the tale at all
Posted on Nov 22, 2014
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