A long time ago in a land far away
Lived a farmer who harvested bushels of hay
He worked in his fields all night and all day
And never had anything special to say
Until one rainy night, all cold and aghast
Appeared at the door, although he trespassed
A man in dark clothes, crying “Help me, at last.”
The farmer elected to do as he asked
“They’re after me now,” the man said with a stutter
It was easy to see that his heart was a-flutter
“Friend, they’ll kill me if I another word utter.”
“Drunkard,” was all the farmer could mutter.
“You’re wrong,” said the man as he shook off the label
Indeed, when composed, he could seem quite stable
“I’ve stolen a treasure from the mighty King’s table.
And behind me, they pursue as quickly as able.”
“What on earth,” the man cried, “would possess you to do this?”
For it seemed the man’s wits had no doubt gone amiss
“I do it, my Lord, for the sake of the Princess.
With whom I do hope to share true love’s first kiss.”
“You see,” he went on, “what I’ve taken is mine.
Belonged to my family since dawning of time.
“The King had no right to pluck from our line
When father could not afford royal fine.”
The farmer replied, “Well, surely you jest.”
“For no one believes these things you attest
And drag into this tale the princess, no less?
Be gone from this place, unwelcome houseguest.”
“It’s the truth,” the dark stranger so strongly insisted.
“And if you won’t help me, my spirit’s persisted.”
“For in the morgue’s registry, I will not be listed.”
True, in this new light, he could not be resisted.
“All right,” said the farmer, looking deflated
It was easy to see that his guest was elated
“We leave at once for the palace,” he stated
“What a fool” the farmer himself now berated
On their horses, the two toward the palace made ready
Experienced riders, the journey was steady
As morning light dawned, they approached the town eddy
Wishing it were the palace already
“Show me this item you filched from the King
Seems it must pack a remarkable sting”
The stranger reluctantly cried, “It’s a ring”
Possessing the power to brainwash all things.”
“The Princess,” he claimed, “is kept under a spell.”
“Returning each night to her own tower cell.”
“Her actions alone the King’s voice can compel
To stop her from wedding a man who’d rebel.”
"King does this,” he claimed, “to protect his own power”
And keeps the fair Princess locked up in a tower
But hope for her lies in digesting this flower
Then no more her will can the King’s voice devour
“Then onward,” the farmer proclaimed with his fist
And renewed they rode through the thick morning mist
Before them the shining palace did exist
They’d have to gain entry though not on the list
“This way,” points the stranger, to the laundry maids walking
Behind them they slipped under cover of frocking
The two were not noticed through the loud gaggle’s squawking
And into the palace they marched through the hawking
Once inside, they turned off through the darkest of halls
Tiptoeing silently, upward they crawl
Listening intently for hints through the walls
When suddenly, distant, a voice softly calls:
“But why,” the voice sobbed, “Must I stay in this place?”
The ring’s power lost its hold and remained just a trace
The stranger perked up; to the tower he raced
And true love shone forth from his now smiling face
“Dear Princess,” he cried “I’ve come to your rescue”
For soon, this cursed ring will no longer possess you.
The Princess looked up, her face startled anew
And out from his pocket, a lone blossom grew
“Eat this at once, o loveliest maid”
“Take it, my dear, and be not afraid”
Deftly the flower on silken tongue laid
In a moment the curse did visibly fade
“Come on,” cried the stranger, “and put this behind”
Flee from the castle and escape this bind
Far from here country roads hillside is lined
And there, together, our future we’ll find.
The Princess lit up; joyous and contented
But too long they’d tarried, and time had cemented
For into the tower, the King rushed demented
Their presence in castle was clearly resented
“Seize them,” the king to his guards now instructed
Blessings! His passage was partly obstructed
Quick thinking, the farmer crude weapon constructed
And leaping over, the Princess abducted.
On and on, down the stairs, the poor trio fled
Across the deep moat their footsteps did tread
Behind them, of course, the King’s army sped
A miracle only would keep them ahead.
And finally our heroes they came to a bridge.
Ahead of their captors they were just a smidge
An idea formed in the head of our kids
To cut the rope when they passed o'er the ridge
Swiftly the rope bounded up with a thunder
Dropping their enemies from out from under
Truly their chase had now gone a-sunder
And deep in the river they re-thought their blunder.
And as for the trio, their folktale is ended.
Princess and stranger; the families now blended
The farmer went back to the hay fields he tended.
But now told a story that really was splendid
