My special present for Random Mumble. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own invisible clothes, they belong to HCA.
The Emperor tried every suit in town
he wanted something to match his crown.
Searching and searching for something fancy;
nothing like Sir Lancelot, nothing lancy.
He could not find his perfect suit
So many tailors did he recruit;
but no one managed that perfect dress
for the Emperor must look at his best.
And suddenly out of endless finding,
did he find two men in hiding
who claimed to make a robe of gold
to keep the Emperor from catching a cold.
His Highness happily accepted their request,
and once they had material did they suggest
a truthful suit for his Majesty
who could say who was smart and who foolhardy.
The Emperor affirmed, utterly delighted
but was a bit annoyed when nothing he sighted,
surely he could not be a fool
when he had a whole kingdom to rule?
So his lack of wit did he hide out of fear,
that someone would discover his secret of the year
and he praised the tailors for their wonderful creations,
but sent a soldier to watch over the cloth formations.
The soldier himself, unable to anything see
asked the tailors, quite foolishly,
why there was nothing on their loom,
and swiftly did they kick him out of the room.
The soldier was sacked, unfit for his post,
and he was followed by five more at the most
but soon the household heard of the magic
and when they were summoned, said the dress was fantastic.
Then came the day when the robe was done,
and the tailors, awarded for the clothes they spun,
left the kingdom without so much as a farewell
they disappeared, rich from what they did sell.
The Emperor eager to see who was a fool,
put on the suit of invisible wool
and out he want with the transparent cape
watching his parade did the villagers gape.
For they could see nothing but the Emperor's skin
and as he walked on did they really begin
to doubt on the existence of such a dress,
who could say who was really better than the rest.
But the thoughts were kept private, for fear of banishment
and so they praised the Emperor's establishment
for making such a beautiful suit,
leaving their devilish thoughts on mute.
One child was different; he had nothing to see,
and so he said the truth –very abruptly.
Suddenly the truth through the innocent shone
as the child cried "He has nothing on!"
The townspeople's thoughts finally out there
did they have the courage to dare
whisper and gossip of the Emepror's senselessness
as he paid the two men to make a non-existent dress.
The Emperor, ashamed, called for justice in the kingdom,
and soldiers were sent out to take away the swindlers' freedom;
but nothing did they find as they searched every municipality,
for the tricksters had disappeared, quite unfortunately.
After a number of years the quest was discarded,
but the Emperor's clothes were still heavily guarded,
as the people yearned for another day
when the Emperor's wants would go astray.
Everyone marvels at how much trouble came of a garment,
and drove his Highness to eternal torment,
but one can only guess the perspicacity of the sires
who managed to turn the citizens to liars.