The Fallen Man Become Full in Glory

Even in its drunken state, the dragon seemed awake.

Those fierce jaws gaped wide,

Blood and saliva dripping down,

And its tongue rolled in lust after my flesh.

The maw uttered unto me: “Abide

In death’s sleep, for henceforth shall

You feel no longer the pain of mortality

And be swept away in a worldly tide.”

My heaving chest was my only response,

For I shall never go willingly into the night;

However, though I slash at impenetrable hide,

Will I triumph over death’s unruly lies.

“So be it then, death will come to you!”

The beast raised its eight heads and stroke.

One! Two! Three!

Each head returned with a scar flowing dark red.

Four! Five! Six!

Not a scratch to be seen on my whole body.

Seven!

I dodged and raised Totsuka-no-Tsurugi high,

Eight!

A flash of steel and roar to deafen the heavens.

The head flew behind me as I rushed the dragon’s belly.

The stench of one thousand ages filled the void ahead.

Bleeding and swollen flesh signaled a weakness,

So I hacked at the bulging flesh until all I had was stained.

The creature’s tail whipped in my way, and my sword snapped

As I flew far from the horrible serpent.

Necks flurried above me like a whirlwind in a summer’s storm.

I looked at my stained, broken sword and back to the danger above.

I screamed a cry from all my soul: “Susanooooooooo!”

My feet gained the speed of Futen’s power as I rushed the beast;

My blade sunk deep into its inflamed chest,

A roar like no other rent the air.

I twisted and pulled until each head, one by one,

Beat the ground in agony to its death. 

I looked inside the newly made crevice

And, to my surprise, a gift for my endeavors lay in my grasp.

I took hold of the great blade and set my eyes upon it.

The sheening steel had not taken any wear inside

For it was truly a gain to my try.

I cried a sigh of relief as the heathen beast

Around me fell, creating thunderous poundings on the Earth.

The sword represented my efforts to please the kings,

So I thus named it Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, the symbol of my valor.