Flowers for Mulan
I am my father's daughter
I no longer have the long hair he tied up for me, no space to put the jade pins and flowers
His own sword was held in my hand as I changed my hair, as I changed my identity
As I held the power of life and death over mens heads
I know I must have brought him dishonor
When I stole the order from him and adorned his armor
When I became a soldier instead of a wife
When I became his son instead of his daughter
I fought alongside men who will never know who I was
My father, they will never know why I took your place
The effort I put into looking and acting as they did
The pain I felt as I put on your armor each day, knowing you were not with me
They can not understand the anger that consumed me as I struck down my enemies
Those who destroyed my nation, those who made you so weak
I brought home your sword and helmet
I brought home your armor and horse
I brought back your daughter, but you are not here to greet her
Long have you been gone along with mother's love
Buried beneath the blossom tree where you showed me the world
You taught me peace, you taught me balance
My last gift to you was a lie
As my ancestors look down on me, I hope you are with them
I pray that you forgive me for what I have done
I pray you forgive me for bringing you honor so late
If honor could have saved you, I would have fought the war alone
Father
This is my last battle
May your sword provide justice in reuniting me with you
For there is nothing left for me to desire than to be by your side
Let them bury me here next to you
Let us sit upon the hill, beneath the blossom tree, as we used to
So you may place the flowers in my hair
And we may watch the world change its ways once more
Together