dancing with the wind
gliding between the snow flakes
aikidoka trains

gusting wind rips by
fragile stem's tenuous hold
aspen leaf flutters

learn to fight like leaves
moving around my center
touch the passing wind


long, hard day, so tired
bad technique, frustration grows
my mind's still at work

stop. inhale...exhale
follow the heat at center
now begin again

breathe, relax, have fun
I dance with uke's "hara"
redirected mind

inhale, moving blend
exhale, subtle pressure leads
think down, uke falls

:o)
This last verse is the one which distilled my definition of aikido
and set the tone for my shodan paper.

thin line flows along
sharp new chisel bites the wood
smooth, flowing rhythm
nearly done, time's flown,
hammer always hits the top
surprised, I wonder
"soft eyes" shift to "hard"
Seeing only hammer's fall
hold my throbbing thumb

http://www.birdsinalaska.org/class/jgilbert_pages/aikido/aikido_poems.htm