How the Cricket Got His Tune
 (loosely based on an old folktale)

Once there was a king whose disposition was so stern,
his frequent fits of temper caused his subjects much concern.
Now, this king was soothed by music; his only peaceful days
were when the wandering minstrels would perform along their ways.
It happened many days went by, no minstrels stopped around.
The king's men combed the land, but no musicians could be found.
A rumor reached them one night as the hour was growing late.
It seemed there was a stranger hanging 'round the palace gate.
They hastened to investigate and found he meant no harm,
and joy of joys, he had a fiddle tucked beneath his arm.
So, tho' the men could see he was a ragged beggar sort,
they took his hand in greeting and insisted they escort
him to the royal bed chamber, where the king sat steeped in woe -
but he felt his spirits lifting as the stranger raised his bow.
The beggar's strange dilemma was he didn't know how to play.
(Actually, he'd found the fiddle earlier that day.)
The king relaxed, anticipating music soft and sweet.
Then the stranger started playing, "Creet creet, creet creet, creet creet."
"Stop," the king cried out, and clapped his hands upon his ears.
"I say, STOP," he repeated, "how dare you come in here?
You are not a fiddler; you entered in deceit!"
But the stranger couldn't stop playing,  "Creet creet, creet creet, creet creet."
The king, infuriated, cried, "You make sport of your king,
to come into his presence like a schoolboy practicing."
The king sprung toward the beggar, he'd never shown such wrath.
The stranger kept his distance, leaping objects in his path.

s he ran, he clutched his fiddle and searched for an escape,
with the king close at his heels, his face as purple as a grape.
"Get this 'creet creet' out of here," the king screeched to his men.
Then, with golden sceptor upraised, he began the chase again.
The court magician grasped his wand, awakened by the yell,
to be prepared if duty called, to cast a spell.

He burst into the king's room, and confused by what he found,
changed the beggar to an insect, in the middle of a bound.
Before long, all the king's men had arrived upon the scene.
The small brown insect wondered why they'd turned so cross and mean,
for all of them pursued him, and a frightful chase they led
until the poor thing scampered underneath the royal bed.
They found him cowering and tried to reach him with their feet.
The poor trapped insect cried out, "Creet creet, creet creet, creet creet."
They prodded him with switches; he ran from place to place.
Each time they thought they'd cornered him, he'd start another race.
Then, he would hide and wait, when all was still he would repeat
the only tune he knew by then, "Creet creet, creet creet, creet creet."
The king's men never caught him, tho' all night they tried in vain.
By daylight, when he crept outdoors, they all were near insane.
After that, from time to time, he'd sneak back in to greet
the king with his revengeful tune, "Creet creet, creet creet, creet creet."
So now, kids, you've heard the story how the cricket got his tune.
If you listen you can hear him as he plays by light of moon.
And - I'd daresay - it's also the way he got his name.
It comes out a little different, but it's very near the same.
And, did you know that to this day, the cricket likes to sneak
into our homes, sometimes, and play a game of hide and seek?
Oh, yes, he will enter when he finds an open door,
and when we are looking elsewhere, he will scoot across the floor.
We'll probably not see him; his actions are so fleet,
but pretty soon we'll hear his tune, "Creet creet, creet creet, creet creet."
Suppose you spot the culprit; that's no cause to rejoice.
Next thing you know, he's crossed the room; I think he throws his voice.
Observe him closely, if you can; he fiddles with his wings.
Do you suppose that to this day he's practicing for kings?
I've read that lady crickets find his serenade quite sweet.
I wish he'd learned some tunes besides, "Creet creet, creet creet, creet creet."

- Lillian Arnold Lopez "Pineylore"
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