Folktales to be Retold
Meang Nguan, the Singing Cricket
A Lao folktale retold by Mr. Bunyok Seansuthon, Vientiane, Laos, Retold in English by Wajuppa Tossa
One night, Indra head a beautiful sound of music that went “yong, yong, yong,”
He was so pleased that he wanted to give a reward to the singer.
So, he said to the courtiers, “You must bring whoever that sang a beautiful song
last night to me. I wish to hear more of the beautiful song.”
So the courtiers went out and making announcement,
“Whoever sang a beautiful song last night, must come forward; the Great Indra wishes to hear
more of your song.”
The gekko step forward and said, “It’s me that sang a beautiful song last night.”
“Then tell me what I need to prepare for your performance tonight for the Great Indra,”
asked one of the courtiers.
“Oh, you must prepare a good size bamboo pipe and hang it on the pillar at the Great Indra’s
hall,” said the gekko.
All was done before night fell. When the night fell, the gecko crawled inside the bamboo pipe
and began his song, “thod, thod, thod, tappo, tappo, tappo.”
The Great Indra then said, “Oh, you sang a beautiful song; I will give you a colorful
jacket to ware.” Since then, the gecko has multi-colored body.
Later that night, the Great Indra again heard, “ yong, yong, yong,” the beautiful song again. “The gekko’s song was beautiful, but it is not the same. ”
So, he said to his courtiers, “Do you know that I still hear the beautiful song?
The one I heard before the gecko came to sing? Please go to fine the singer for me.”
So the courtiers went out and making the same announcement,
“Whoever sang a beautiful song last night, must come forward; the Great Indra wishes to hear more of your song.”
The bullfrog step forward and said, “It’s me that sang a beautiful song last night.”
“Then tell me what I need to prepare for your performance tonight for the Great Indra,”
asked one of the courtiers.
“Oh, you must prepare a good size bowl of water and place it at the foot of the stairs of the Great Indra’s hall,” said the bullfrog.
All was done before night fell. When the night fell, the bullfrog crawled onto the bowl of water and began his song, “hueng aang, hueng aang, hueng aang.”
The Great Indra then said, “Oh, you sang a beautiful song; I will give you a striped
vest to ware.” Since then, the bullfrog’s body is striped.
Later that night, the Great Indra again heard, “ yong, yong, yong,” the beautiful song again. “The bullfrog’s song was beautiful, but it is not the same. ”
So, he said to his courtiers, “Do you know that I still hear the beautiful song?
The one I heard before the gecko and the bullfrog came to sing?
Please go to fine the singer for me.”
This time the courtiers came across Maeng Nguan, the singing cricket.
So, they asked, “Did you sing a beautiful song last night?”
“Yes, I did. Why did you ask?” asked Maeng Nguan, the singing cricket.
“Oh, the Great Indra wants to hear your again tonight. Would you come?”
“Yes, I will come,” said Maeng Nguan, the singing cricket.
“Then tell me what I need to prepare for your performance tonight for the Great Indra,”
asked one of the courtiers.
“Oh, absolutely nothing. I will just fly to light at a pillar of the Great Indra’s Hall and sing,”
said Maeng Nguan, the singing cricket.
So, that night Maeng Nguan, the singing cricket went to the light at a pillar of the Great Indra’s Hall and began singing “ yong, yong, yong,”
The Great Indra was so delighted that he granted divine food to Maeng Nguan, the singing cricket and gave him divine eyes so he can see both night and day.
So, the cricket takes no normal food. All he enjoys is the dew drop from heaven.