Rapping the Beanstalk Part two

Authors Note: this the second and final part of Rapping the Beanstalk. Hope you like it. Will Jack escape the giant's cage? read on and find out
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The giant, sat down and kicked off a boot,
Whilst his dear old wife cooked pumpkin soup.
Jack was quiet, quiet as a mouse;
Best watch yourself, in a giant’s house.

Suddenly the giant spotted poor little Jack,
Grabbed hold of the boy nearly broke his back.
Jack, he struggled with fits of rage,
The giant just laughed and hurled him in a cage.

He watched and taunted, as Jack started to cry,
“You can go and kiss your days goodbye.
You look a tasty kid, but not much meat,
I’ll fatten you up, then greedily eat!”

“I’m sure you’re a nice boy … pleased to meet you,
How’d you like to be the seasoning of my stew,
I’m going to keep you for a while, like a pet,
Reckon I’d be the cruellest giant you’ve ever met!”

“Now let me introduce you to my minstrel , her name is Dwirl,
She really is the strangest girl,
Half is girl and half is harp,
Really knows how to hit an ‘A-sharp’.

“Then next to her, is good old ‘Pegs.’
A goosey-goosey gander that lays golden eggs.
And in the kitchen, well that’s my wife,
She’s awful handy with a carving knife.

“I’ll grind your bones to make my bread
I’ll turn you into a shrunken head.
I’m a bad, bad, real evil cad,
Escape from me and you’ll be quite glad.

“Don’t mess with me, you’re only an elf!”
The giant placed the cage high on a shelf.
Suddenly the Harp-girl started to sing,
A beautiful melody, with a lovely ring.

“Hey there, Giant, calm yourself down,
Your voice can be heard all over town.
It’s getting dark, time for sleep.
Time to close your eyes and go bo-peep.

“Go on Giant, sit upon your chair,
Put your feet up and drink a little beer.”
The giant’s eyes close so gradually
From his mouth comes ‘yea old zee’.

Now with amazement, Jack spotted the cage’s key,
Around the giant’s neck; Jack grinned with glee
The Harp-girl asked “What are you looking at?”
Pointing at the key, Jack whispered “That.”

Jack’s face turned sad and tears ran down
As he begged her to help him with an escape Plan
Took a lot of persuasion and a little bit of lies
He even tried to sadden up his cries.

Finally she gave in and said “Stop your weep,
I’ll help you if two promises you keep.”
“Anything,” says Jack “Just get the key.”
“First you’ve got to promise not to tell on me!”

“The second thing I’m going to ask of you,
You leave here, take me with you.
You see, I’m a prisoner too,
Scratch my back, and I’ll do the same for you.”

“Anything you say, Just get me out!”
“No need to be snappy, no need to shout.”
So artistically she snuck the key,
While the giant slept on, obliviously.

She opened the door and Jack scurried out
“Keep your promise boy, or I’ll bop your snout.”
“Come on then Dwirl, let’s run away.
But first I’ll grab old Pegs, golden eggs it lay.”

A few seconds later they were running for the door
Pegs peeking at Jack’s legs, as he scurried across the floor.
Jack omitted a whimper, like an injured dog,
Then started to limp, instead of jog.

The giant he awoke with a start;
Now Jack and Dwirl were really in the cart.
It seemed the whimper was louder than first thought;
If they didn’t hasten their pace they could be re-caught.

The giant saw them both slipping under the door.
“Hey, you two. Get back to where you were before!” 
He stamped his feet as he spotted the keys in the cage,
Then bellowed outloud, in a terrible rage.

But Jack and Dwirl had the lead,
They ran passed the ice-cream trees and giant pumpkin seeds.
Back through the lolly bushes, with no time to eat;
Once again Jack was getting sore feet.

With a lunging and a plunging and a battle cry,
Came the clumsy giant with a club held high.
If he caught them it would really be the end
“Come back here Dwirl, you treacherous friend!”

At last they reached the bean stalk top
“If I lay my hand on you two, you’re heads I’ll chop!”
But down the beanstalk they both did climb
And escaped certain death in a nick of time.

The giant followed down in a maddened huff
It was getting way out of hand, Jack had had enough
Then suddenly the bottom was in sight
They descended even faster, with all their might.

Jack he jumped from the stalk onto the ground
Rushed to the shed, with a leap and a bound.
He forced open the door, with a kick;
Anxiety surged and made him feel sick.

Back to the beanstalk he rushed, with an axe,
With all his might he gave it forty whacks
It wobbled and split and came crashing down;
Bits of giant scattered all over town.

Jack’s mother lived happily ever after,
What with golden eggs to sell, and lots of laughter.
They kept young Dwirl and enjoyed her tunes,
And Jack lived on for many, many, moons.




The End


(originally written 1983)