Bunbuku Chagama (a japanese tale retold)
A poor little tanuki who has done nothing wrong
has found himself trapped, but not for long.
Here comes an old man, tired and frail
coming over to save his tail.
Now free and happy as a clam
the tanuki ran up to thank the old man
"Thank you, sir! I'm forever in your debt!
If there's anything you want, it'll be the reward you get!"
"How kind of you, Tanuki. Will you listen to my tale?"
The old man sat down, shaking and frail.
"As you can see, I am old and can work no more
and as a result, my money had been lingering, and i've become very poor."
The tanuki nodded "So it's money you need?
Then I'll come up with a plan that will surely succeed!"
So the old man took the tanuki home, and the two ate a meal
the next morning, the tanuki kept his end of the deal.
"I'll turn into a teapot for you to sell
and the customer shall pay you very well!"
So the tanuki turned into a very nice teapot
who was bought by a monk for quite a lot.
When the monk got home, he set the pot down
and though he couldn't see it, the tanuki had a frown.
He missed the old man, to be honest
but he knew he had to keep his promise.
All of a sudden, the monk picked him up
along with a little old teacup.
He carried him over to his little stove
and then went over to his tea trove.
The tanuki was getting nervous, fearing the worst
He's afraid he'll get burned because of the monk's thirst.
With the stove lit, things were starting to get hot
when all of a sudden, an "E-YOUCH!!" came from the pot.
It sprang up and sprouted legs, then ran off
cold, burned and covered in tea, he let out a cough.
He went back to the old man "Tanuki, what's wrong?"
The tanuki explained and it didn't take long
"I'm sorry, old man. I should not have returned.
I ran away because I got burned
I have to help you once more
I won't be able to rest until I fufill my promise for sure!"
The old man picked up the tanuki and hugged him tight
and carried him back home for the night.
The next morning at the break of dawn
the tanuki woke up to see that the old man was gone.
He went outside to look around
and after a few minutes, the old man was found.
He was tying a rope to two wooden poles
and down below he put smoldering coals.
"excuse me, old man, but what are you up to?"
"I'm making a high wire for little old you.
In the form of a teapot, you'll walk across the wire
It'll be like a circus act, and I promise you won't fall into the fire."
So they put on a show for all to see
earning the old man lots of money.
And so, the old man and tanuki lived a life of wealth and laughter
and needless to say, they lived happily ever after.
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