Ode
To My First Judo Gi
As
published in Black Belt Magazine, drawing by Angelo Scalis ©1998
It appeared
Ghostlike,
A shadow of infinite power.
At first I refused,
Dared not accept.
Soon it caught me like a net.
I tried it on.
My first judo class!
It was beautiful,
A white tooth made for wearing,
Beauty only I can see.
To wear it
Was to give in.
Its fine stitching
Was an art itself.
It was like a friend,
Always there,
Powerful,
Mysterious,
Loyal,
A friend.
Its collar symbolized combat -
Rough, white, thick
Collar made for combat.
It now lies tattered
Broken and unwanted.
Its collar is worn,
Punctured,
Stitching is gone.
The gi misses the stench of battle,
The stench of perfecting character.
Still it lies
Strong,
Proud,
Drenched in the blood of my soul
Judo...
