The
Little
Samurai
Long, long ago in old
Japan,
next to a beautiful paper fan,
a porcelain doll sat on a shelf
and he lived there all by himself.
This porcelain doll, he looked
so smart.
His bright red headband was a work of art.
He wore a robe that swished and flowed,
which is called a
Japanese kimono.
Then one sunny morning,
the doll did say,
I hate just sitting here all day. I want to be a heroic samurai,
not a doll.
And he began to cry.
Just then,
he had a great idea.
He looked around and the coast was clear.
So the doll hopped off the shelf.
Hoppy hop!
No one saw him or shouted,
Stoppy stop!
The little doll had decided to find
a trainer who was wise and kind.
These teachers were called sensei,
and they really knew the samurai way.
The doll had heard of a wise sensei,
who lived very, very far away.
All excited, and his heart a -quiver,
he skipped his way to a rushing river.
The big river roared and splashed.
The doll cried out,
I can't swim that.
You can ride on my back, said a voice.
It was a big koi fish.
The doll rejoiced.
Thank you, koi fish, said the little doll.
The koi fish laughed.
It's lucky you're small.
He carried him over to the other side.
Then onwards an d upwards
the dhole did stride.
Just then a huge valley stretched ahead.
Gah!
It's full of prickly thorns!
He said.
You can ride on my back,
trilled a small voice.
It was a great white bird.
The doll rejoiced.
Thank you dear bird,
said the little doll.
The great bird squawked,
no problem at all.
Then she flew the doll high over the
thorns until they reached a field of corn.
After walking some more, the doll saw ahead,
a deep, dark forest.
It's scary, he said.
But there were no new
friends to help him there.
So into the dark forest the
little doll did dare.
Past great tree branches that
groaned and creaked
and forest creatures that
growled and squeaked.
The brave little doll went on
through the wood,
all the way to where the
Sensei's palace stood.
The doll knocked twice on the palace gate,
and then nervously outside did wait,
till the
Sensei appeared and said,
hello what can I do for you young fellow the
porcelain doll he bowed his head I've
come to ask you something he said see
I want to be a brave samurai
Oh wise old
sensei may I try the sensei
was a smart old guy but
But you're already as brave as a samurai.
You completed your dangerous journey that was so long,
so twisty and so turny.
Then the brave little doll he jumped for joy.
He wasn't just a porcelain toy.
Thank you sensei!
He did cry and went home a little samurai.
You