The Endless Tale

By Arisha Amin

Once there was a wealthy king
Who thought he’d never fail
To find a storyteller
To tell an endless tale

All storytellers gathered
From places far and wide
But none could tell an endless tale
Although heart-out they tried

The king was sad and to his men
Ordered to send invites
To storytellers who can tell
An endless tale for nights

“Whoever can tell me an endless story”
The king was hard to swear
“Shall win my daughter’s hand in marriage
And to my throne, he shall be the heir

But remember to begin the story
With a deep and steady breath
For the moment you stop to say
You shall face a horrific death”

On one fine summer day
A young man came to share
With the king his story long
Which few would actually dare

He started his story on and on
Until the sixth month did he try
He was left without any ideas
And then he had to die

Months after months years after years
No storyteller came
For the fear of losing their precious life
And dying out of shame

One day a stranger from the South
Walked in with all his pride
He wished to be the heir to the throne
And win the beautiful bride

Inside the kingdom, he went with valour
To meet the wealthy king
Who was sitting on a throne of gold
Wearing a diamond ring

“Good day,” he greeted, “Your Majesty!
That hero is finally here,
Who will tell you a never-ending story
Now is the time to cheer!”

The king warned the young man brave,
“Don’t you fear for life?
For if you fail to tell the tale
Your head will be cut with a knife”

“Do not worry Your Majesty
I will narrate an endless tale
I am sure you will be satisfied
And I am not here to fail”

“Once upon a time,” he started,
“There lived a certain king
Who seized all the country corn
And did not leave a thing

A swarm of locusts came over the land
And saw the store of grain
They found a small hole inside
For one of them to go in

In went the locusts one after another
And brought out a grain of corn
This went on and on for years and years
Each day from dusk to dawn”

The story went on like this for years,
Until the king stopped him to ask,
“How long can it go on like this?
You are taking me to task!”

“Oh! my dear, please forgive me
And you are very clever
Endless locusts carrying endless corn?
Seems to go on forever!”

“Take my daughter’s hand in marriage
The kingdom is for you to rule
Stop the endless story here;
I promise not to be a fool”

The storyteller of the endless tale
Got the princess’s hand in marriage
They lived happily ever after
And rode in a golden carriage