Poem: "In Whose Strength Is Beauty"

[ysabetwordsmith]

This poem came out of the November 6, 2012 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired and sponsored by the_vulture.  You can read more about Fukuda Sensei online.

In Whose Strength Is Beauty

Perfect the form, and the aim must follow.
The target is inescapable in a master's eye.

She approaches Judo and life alike
with the intent to be
gentle, kind and beautiful,
yet firm and strong,
both mentally and physically.
She believes that
a compassionate soul
is inner beauty.

Instead of getting married,
she practiced the martial art,
taking on many students
instead of bearing children.
This is her marriage,
her family, her legacy.

Keiko Fukuda mastered the motions of Judo,
but it took decades for the men
to recognize a woman's skill.
Now she ties the tenth-degree black belt
around her waist at the age of ninety-eight.

She continues to teach Judo
three times a week at her dojo,
dreams made manifest
in every stroke
of her small steadfast hands.

So make your bow to
Fukuda Sensei
in whose strength is beauty
and in whose beauty, strength.

Comments

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

*bows formally*

[the-vulture.livejournal.com]

Fukuda Sensei, domo arigato gozaimashita.

[paka.livejournal.com]

I can kind of understand how one could become so committed, though, because when you move, when everything's going right in your movements (Cziksentmihalyi's flow theory has been on my mind lately), that's love.

Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

Martial arts are all about force and flow and balance. You stand at the center of the spinning wheel. And a master can move mountains.