Mountains and meadows, deserts and forests,
Lands apart and Moons away,
Artwork: Molly Crabapple
Plains and seas, springs and mists,
A small known kingdom lay.
Castles and huts, spires and mires,
A kingdom of joy and gay,
Nobles and beggars, lords and ladies,
Streets decorated with spray.
Hedges and gates, rivers and lakes,
Soldiers waited on the quay,
Ships and boats, merchants and fishers,
Impatient of the delay.
Oars and sails, gulls and mills,
The king was brought in a dray,
Tinkers and tailors, gaffers and toddlers,
‘Twas not a joyous day.
Bakers and makers, subjects all,
Bestowed upon him their bays,
Knelt before him, the soldiers and all,
Silent, as the king so lay.
Heavens wept, rivers hushed,
None wished for this day,
Silence stilled, weepers calmed,
Goodbyes they had to say.
Huffing and heaving, careful and cautions,
The king was sent on his way,
Grieving river, weeping sky,
Carried the king away.
Pearls of tears slipped from his eyes,
Bottom of the river they lay,
The king wept to see them off,
Or so they were to say.
Mountains and meadows, deserts and forests,
Lands apart and Moons away,
Suns and Moons, seasons and years,
A neigh lad sat on a stairway.
Esquire’s son, an old knight’s pride,
Caught the knight in the garden one day,
And so did he inquire curiously,
Did you know the king who wept?
