The Bunyip Project (Australia) by Jonny D.

THE KATENPAI

by John Davies

Jarli took a stroll through the mangrove swamp

A croc saw Jarli and fancied a chomp

"Where are you going to, my little young fellow?

Come and have lunch at my Casa Crocodello."

"It's terribly kind of you to offer me chai

But I'm going to lunch with a Katenpai."

"A Katenpai? What's a Katenpai?"

"A Katenpai! Why didn't you know?

He has the head of an emu, a huge mane of hair,

And lives in his terrifying, aquatic lair."

"Where are you meeting him?"

"Here, by this loch,

And his favourite food is roasted croc."

"Roasted croc! I'm off!" Croc said

"Goodbye, little Jarli," and away he sped

"Silly old Croc! Does my tone not belie,

There's no such thing as a Katenpai?"

On went the boy through the deep dark grove.

A snake saw the boy, and prepared his cooking stove.

"Where are you going to, dear little boy?

Come and have tea in my tree-top Savoy.

"It would be splendid to dine in black-tie,

But I'm going to have tea with a Katenpai."

"A Katenpai? What's a Katenpai?"

"A Katenpai! Why didn't you know?

He's the size of a bullock, has sharp-clawed toes,

The tail of a horse and a grimace that froze."

"Where are you meeting him?"

"Here by this creek,

And his favourite food is snake cooked with leek."

"Snake cooked with leek! Yikes!", said the snake named Sid

"Goodbye, little boy," and away he slid

"Silly old Snake! What a foolish guy!

There's no such thing as a Katenpai?"

On went the boy through the deep dark grove.

A spider saw the boy, and the web had been wove.

"Where are you going to, my tasty young thing?

Peruse the menu, we have fried kookaburra wing."

"It's terribly kind of you, to offer stir fry,

But I'm having a feast with a Katenpai."

"A Katenpai? What's a Katenpai?"

"A Katenpai! Why, didn't you know?

He has fur,fins and tusk all over his body,

He hunts you by scent and kills all with his waddy."

"Where are you meeting him?"

"Here, under this yew,

And his favourite food is spider stew."

"Spider stew! Oh no! I see a broken thread!"

"Goodbye, little Jarli," and away Spider sped.

"Silly old Spider! What a hurried good-bye!

There's no such thing as a Katenp.....?

...OH!"

But who is this creature with taloned paws,

More hairy and fierce than ever Santa Claus?

A cross between large cat, stoat and bilby,

He looks hell-bent on pursuing a killing spree.

He swims right in front of me like an eel or tortoise,

As eyes burn red, I need the help of the village boys!

"Oh help! Oh no!

It's a Katenpai!"

"My favourite food!" the Katenpai said,

"You'll taste good mixed with cheese spread!"

"Good?" said the boy. "Don't display this silly pomp!

I'm the scariest creature in this stinking swamp.

Just walk behind me and soon you'll see,

Everyone you know will be desperate to flee."

"All right," said the Katenpai, chortling with mirth.

"You go ahead and we'll see what you unearth."

They walked and walked till the Katenpai said,

"I hear a scurrying in the leaves ahead."

"It's Spider," said little Jarli. "Why, Spider, all feeding on fly!"

Spider took one look at the Katenpai.

"Oh gosh!" he said, "Goodbye, little lad!"

And off he scuttled to his cobwebbed pad.

"You see?" said the boy. "You saw him fly."

"Amazing!" said the Katenpai.

They walked some more till the Katenpai said,

"I hear a hiss in the grass ahead."

"It's Snake," said the boy. " Why, Snake, I wish you warm hi!"

Snake took one look at the Katenpai.

"Oh dear!" he said, "Farewell, tribal friend!"

And off he slithered like his life depend.

"You see?" said the lad. "Do you still ask why?"

"Astounding!" said the Katenpai.

They walked some more till the Katenpai exclaimed,

"Those are four feet to an ear that's trained."

"It's Croc," said the boy. "Why, Croc, hello!"

Croc took one look at the Katenpai.

"Oh help!" he said, "Ek-u-ba, little Jarli!"

And off he ran like a right and proper Charlie.

"Well, Katenpai," said the boy. "You see?

Everyone is in fear of me!

But now my hunger has reached the height of Eiffel

I will have to make me some Katenpai trifle!"

"Katenpai trifle!" the Katenpai said,

Like a slippery eel, he turned and fled.

All was quiet in the deep dark bog.

Jarli took a seat and ate a chocolate log.

J.S.H.D