"A Grebsa´s Chant" by Heidi Hecht

Very cool! I can just imagine the Gresba chanting! Proud and strong!

Heidi Hecht replies: "Thanks. That’s how I meant it to be, the proud warriors."

I like! My favorite part is the last verse. I’ll try to read more sometime!!!

Heidi Hecht replies: "Okay! I’m glad you like it. I never thought of poetry as being my strong suit. People generally seem to like this one, though. Thanks for reading."

Hey. Really great use of language and I really like the idea behind it. Think the metre needs a little bit of tweaking to give it a more chanty-songlike feel but it’s a really great start.

Great job and great imagination.

Lotsaluv, Em

Heidi Hecht replies: "Yeah I always figured poetry wasn’t my strong suit...I just wrote this in an attempt to give a general impression of what the Grebsas are about & also to give them something they can use for a festival or parade or whatever. Thanks for reading."

This is cool!

Heidi Hecht replies: "Thanks!"

They sound very fiercesome. I love the lyrics! It really helps depict how the Grebsas were and how much they valued their honor in battle.

Heidi Hecht replies: "Thanks much! I’m glad the meaning of this piece came off so clearly--I meant this as a kind of mission statement for the Grebsas."

wouln’t want to mess with them - i love the last stanza!!!

Heidi Hecht replies: "Yeah you don’t want to mess with the Grebsas! Thanks for reading."

Not somebody that I would like to be at war with.

Heidi Hecht replies: "Yeah no kidding. As far as warriors go, the Grebsas are like the Samurai and the Huns and a pride of lions lumped into one. Thanks for reading!"

This reminds me of a prayer I once read written by an unknown soldier prior to the landings at Normandy in WW2. It is very good. Truly you have the heart of a poet.

Heidi Hecht replies: "Thanks much! I never thought of poetry as my strong suit but I’m glad you like it. I will try to look up that prayer when I get a chance."

There is a book. It may not bein print anymore. It’s called "Wisdom From the Ninja Village of the Cold Moon" by Stephen K. Hayes. I think you would like it. It is very much in line with what you write. The book was first published by Contemporary Books, Inc. in 1984.

Heidi Hecht replies: "That sounds like an awesome book. If I ever come across a copy for sale I’ll try to get it. Thanks for commenting."

I wanted to be a little more precise about the book I recommended. It all about martial arts philiscopical poetry. For example, one of my favorites verses goes like this:

"Despite the love you feel and the joy you radiate there are those misguided persons in the world who will see you harmed. They will confront you with fists or await you in the darkness with there blades drawn.

Do not fear them or become angry with them.

Allow your heart to hold the emptiness of purity. Your receptive spirit will hear the sadness and rage of your attackers’ intentions and your body will flow with the winds of their hatred. You will take them to the destruction they seek.

And as the dust settles and the blood dries, do not let your own joy decrease nor find the world any less beautiful simply because some persons refuse to see you with eyes that love."

The whole book is like this, and I see it very much in common with what you write. Having been both a soldier and martial artist, the writings of this book have a particular beauty. For not only it expresses sadness of reality of the world, but also the hope of the future through idealism, principles, and honor.