A headstrong soldier's dying Promise .

Kuribayashi Tadamichi (1945):

The foe leaves singing songs
I'm lying shut up in the field
but seven times I will
be born again to take up
the halberd, I'm sure !!


[白狐] [6/8/6/7/5=32]

Ada uta de
nobe ni wa kuchi-ji
ware wa mata
na-tabi umarete
hoko wo tora-mu zo.


A tanka, also called waka [5/7/5/7/7=31]

foe/enemy -- uta de = "song coming out"
> the enemy leaves the battlefield singing songs.
in the field + (slight emphasis) -- mouth-die [< kuchi + shinu]
I -- again
seven-times -- being born
[na(-na) // tabi = (noun) journey, travel.]
halberd + (accusativus) -- take(-up) + will/intend-to -- I'm sure !!

Source: http://174.132.129.219/~jisei/samurai.html

"Foe unvanquished,
I won't perish in the field;
I'll be born again,
to take up the halberd
seven more times."

[4/7/5/6/4=26] [> muhai = undefeated]

My version is far better, don't you think ?!