Stuff and Nonsense
Perspective
milk in a cup
happy cats
unhappy cows
Captain Jane
in my dream
a sea of rubber ducks
and a soap iceberg
Playmancy?
a way to tell the future
tossing bones
are dogs soothsayers?
Triple Threat
fleas in summer
on one tail, an itch unending
on three tails, hell on earth
Kamikaze
trees in the wind
throwing sticks
for me to chase
Kitsune-na-shiteki
On Having (and keeping) Three Tails
Upon my birth, a tiny kit, my mothers tail I turned and bit, and snarling once and then again, she pushed me just outside the den. I blinked, and stood, on all fours first, then straightened, with a sake thirst, I wandered forth a while and then I joined the world of learned men. Soon I learned the ways and habits of tengu and poetic rabbits, tanuki tricks and bake-neko, and though lesser known, the bake-gecko. I practiced magic, Inari‘s gift, and learned to run, both straight and swift, the river gods had naught on me, my pride grew great as any tree…and soon, my tails they numbered three.
But then I met the inugami, a doggish, loyal sort of kami, and from him learned that tricks have prices, as I lost one tail to his mochi’s slices, and slunk in shame back to Inari, to bow to her and to say sorry. I asked her to forgive me, please, my eyes cast down and on my knees, she laughed and laughed and touched my head, and gave to me a quest instead, to save a village from the plight of oni stalking in the night and shrieking till men died of fright..
So back I went onto all fours, and to the village on the shores I ran and changing as I went I came as inugami, sent to save a loyal family who made their living from the sea. They welcomed me with tears of joy, and then I turned into a boy, and smiled at them and bowed so low and vowed that to the shore I’d go, and face the oni without fear, and scare them from their visits here. So down I went, at evenings tide, the fisherman right by my side, his fishing hook in one strong hand, we walked together down the sand. The rest I’ll tell another night, but my it was a lovely fight, and with the oni leader slain, I headed back, my tail to gain…and as I went down came the rain…
Kitsune-na-shiteki
Related articles
- Wearable Wagging Tail Matches Your Mood (mashable.com)
- Foxes and Inari Shrine (madeinmatsue.com)
Kitsune, Usagi and Tanuki: Fox Dreams references.
It occurred to me that a few of the references in Fox Dreams might be a bit obscure, and the stories work better with the right images. 😉
Kitsune (keet-snay) is the fox and fox spirit, Usagi the rabbit, and Tanuki is a Japanese raccoon dog and spirit.
Kitsune are mischievous shapeshifters who become more powerful the longer they live, as represented by the number of tails they have. Although inherently tricksy and sly, for the right person they can make loyal and loving friends, lovers, and wives. The Fox Wife is a traditional tale that usually has the fox-woman proving to be a loving and exceptional wife, until she is revealed…sometimes by her tails showing under her gown, or her true face reflected in a pond…and must leave.
Inari is the patron kami of rice, fertility and foxes. She likes to take the form of a fox, and as such, is said to be the only nine-tailed Kitsune in existence, as she won’t tolerate anyone having more power than she.
Tanuki are shape-changers, and one tale tells how they love to masquerade as a fat little cooking pot on the hearth until someone fills it with food, at which point it changes back and runs away with the meal! They are generally portrayed as happy, lusty, and slightly stupid, able to be led into foolish situations with little effort.
Hope that helps! At the least, I hope you leave knowing a little more about the fascinating myths and legends and animals of Japan! 🙂
Fox Dreams
mischievous fox that I love
come to me this night
whisper your dreams into me
let me run with you
Kitsune in the mist, your eyes
twinkle in time with my heart
Inari my hearts first love
beautiful goddess
white tail wrapped around pointed nose
concealing your smile
under the cherry blossoms
I wonder what you think of?
usagi I, the timid
caught in kitsune stare
in the blossoms, heart beating
shall I run or stay?
dewdrop falls on kitsune nose
upon the sneeze I am gone
mischievous spirit of fox
tell me what you see
only the leaf dappled woods
or a place to play?
dance in the woods, little fox
my heart will remember you
tanuki in the fireplace
run and hide, spirit!
belly fat with stolen stew
can not outrun me
kitsune I, the fox spirit
and I will have thy dinner!
