Invasion

That day the ground trembled with the sound of rumbling hooves
Banners grew from the horizon, war cries filled the air
Our men swiftly grabbed their swords, loyal unto death
The cavalry in the distance kicked up a storm of dust
Incense lit in every house, prayers filled the rooms
To the spirit of the mountain for our protection
The din outside grew louder like the coming of the waves

Is this our doom?

In an instant, the two sides met
The samurai were relentless, decapitating all in reach with their naginata swings
The archers rode behind them, hailing flames from the sky
Our buildings were igniting as panic filled the air
The line of our defense lay slaughtered, dead in the field
The first of our enemies rode swiftly through the gates

Those running were cut down as chaos seized the entire town
The gates were blocked to shut us in while the warriors circled us from within

Was this our doom?
We watched in horror as our houses burned
Those who were hiding were thrown to the ground
And run through before they could even stand

"We claim this village for the Eastern Empire!"

We were sorted young from old
From small to great, to be sold
The young were bound, packed in a cart
Pulled away, families broken apart

The captain of the warriors turned to us
"You are of some use
Your rice fields can feed hundreds
Half of what you collect is to be shipped out east."
Thus began our days as slaves