The Tale of the Beckoning Cat

A very long long time ago

Some weary Samurai

Deep in the heart of Tokyo

Traversed the countryside

When suddenly a blinding flash

Streaked bright across the sky

And rain began to pour and splash

And drip into their eyes

“Oh no!” They yelled; “Oh dear!” They cried,

“Now we must surely try

To hurry up and hope to find

A place to keep us dry!”

They traveled not even a mile

When to their great surprise

A cat with a peculiar smile

Appeared before their eyes

“How oddly strange it is to find

A cat so safe and dry

I wish a cat could speak its mind

And tell us where to hide!”

No sooner had the Samurai

Expressed this thought aloud

Than right as if to give reply

The cat let out a meow!

And then as if to beckon them

The cat raised up its paw

Those weary and bewildered men

Believed not what they saw

“How welcoming!” the men replied

“Though oddly strange to find

A cat like you so warm and dry

With one paw raised up high!”

The friendly cat now turned around 


And led the Samurai

Along a path until they found

A small and lonely shrine

Right then a priest opened the door

And said “Please come inside,

“You poor men must be soaked and sore

Won’t you come by the fire?”

“We thank you, sir, and thank your friend”


The grateful men replied

“Without your cat us weary men

Would still be soaked outside


Your little friend brought fortune

So we bring fortune to you


A large and generous portion

Of our gold we give to you!”

And since that cold and stormy night

Great fortune will arrive

To anyone who finds in sight

This cat with paw raised high

Maneki Neko is his name

This cat with paw raised high

Such friendly cat though oddly strange

With his peculiar smile