Ode: Rupture of the Umbilical Cord of the Heart

1

The merry kite reigns over the blue sky
Riding on the rapid winds, flying high
The string still holds it firmly to the ground
The kite strains to be free to leap and bound

The Samurai’s sword sings a song of might
Dancing the dance of death does it foes smite
His Lord still holds him firmly to his oath
To bend and bow low, his free spirit loath

2

I emerged free from the prison of flesh
A new life stepping into the world afresh
Cutting free of the fleshy cord of life
I ran, I jumped, I danced, I played the fife

I still was bound in the prison of love
In vain tried I, from it to break free of
Too hard is the cord of the heart to cut
A free soul, I strove to escape life’s rut

3

The kite string suddenly snapped, setting free the kite
The lord’s heart suddenly stopped, setting free the Samurai
The winds tossed around the anchorless kite,
The kite drifted aimlessly; hopelessly lost
The Samurai became a rebel without a cause;
A lawless bandit without pride and honor

Poet's Note:  There are two opinions on whether a poem should be explained or left to the reader's intrepretation. But leaving it to reader's intrepretation works when it gets published as a book and the reader reads it over and over again and literary critics give explanation. A blogger does not have this luxury. So I think a short explanatory note can go a long way in making the poetry understandable to the time starved, low attention span readers of blogs. 

This poem tries to express the mixed feelings one has for one's mother. One is bound by her love and at the same time one wishes to break free and chart one's own course free of the mother's smothering care and concern. In spite of the constant striving to break free, loss of a mother can be a shattering experience.   

I read about the ode form in this interesting article. I have tried to write one to the best of my understanding. I have used two metaphors - one of a kite and one of a Samurai bound to his Lord. In Japan, when Lords die Samurais have to either commit suicide or become bandits. As per the article, an ode has a strophe, an antistrophe and an epode. Going by that, I have introduced the metaphor of the samurai and the kite in the strophe. I give my personal reflections in the antistrophe. I have maintained a pentameter and AABB rhyme scheme in all stanzas of the strophe and antistrophe. In the concluding epode I have brought about the climax maintaining no meter or rhyme scheme.