THE KING WHO BELIEVED EVERYTHING

THE KING WHO BELIEVED EVERYTHING

Now once there was a foolish king
Who would believe most anything.
He searched for any who could weave
A tale that he would not believe.

With castle, gold and lands for lure,
So many tried to find a cure.
So many liars tried and lost
And in deep dungeon paid the cost.

A farmlad came to take his try.
“One day I sowed a field of rye,
Before I'd finished my first seed
Had sprung up higher than all the trees.

“Soon it was higher than any tower.
I left it for a few days now,
Until it rose right out of view.”
“Yes,” said the king, “that sounds quite true.”

“And so I thought that I might try
To climb up through the sunny sky
Until I came to heaven's sphere;
The climb took me a weary year.”

“In heaven angels flew, most fair,
Through perfumed, light-filled, singing air;
And beauty shone from everything.”
“Yes, I believe you,” said the king.

“I saw my mother and father both
A-riding in a silver coach;
In golden robes they took their ease.”
“Yes,” said the king, “that I'll believe.”

“Then I went onward, wondering,
And then I saw your parents, king,
All dressed in rags, with filth and slime,
And caring for a herd of swine!”

“You lie, “ the king roared out this time,
“My parents can't be handling swine!
Deceiving rogue, I'll have your head!”
“I'll have your prize,” the farmlad said.