Road to Regalia

Infestation

The king stormed into the room

"What is of this shroom

That you speak of, enraged?"

he demanded of the sage

The sage stroke his beard and laughed jauntily

"Your Majesty," he said mockingly

For the blind ignorance of the king

Was of such great heights to bring

Entertainment to the unkind man

"Your Majesty, have you heard

Of the masses who have fled?

For the fear of their lives, they have lost their beards!"

"And this is caused by that wicked shroom, is it not?"

Said the king, scowling

"Ah, but it originates from outside the motte

Your Majesty, please refrain from frowning!

It is a simple problem to solve,

which I will if you devolve

Your heavy burden onto my shoulders!"

The king had no choice but to agree

The sage whistled gleefully

For his plan had started beautifully

He went out of the keep

So gracefully did he leap

The sage knew the cause so

It was the problem with the shrooms

They had not been checked, they had not been kept

And so the mice had crept

Into the baskets of freshly picked shrooms

With their grey hairs and unkempt plumes

Did they nibble the shrooms

And the illness spread thus so

Wielding the authority of the king,

So loudly did he ring

The bells of change

The people were fain

To follow his every command

To obey his every word

For they were desperate for help

Which the sage happily gave

The king saw the job well done

He patted his shoulder and praised him

"My hopes and wishes you have outdone,

My blessed crown you have won!"