The Emperor’s New Clothes

He only wore the very best
Silk and satin and pearl
Striking ribbons on his chest
With patterns straight or swirled

He luxuriated in special hats
His capes were trimmed in fur
The shoes he wore, they must have spats
His underpants smelled of myrrh

The weavers who had come to town
Made claims he couldn’t skip
Secretly they thought him a clown
His gold they planned to nip

“Most cannot see our special cloth
To fools it disappears.”
Aha! the Emperor had a thought:
I’ll examine my viziers!

He sent his staff in one by one
To see what they could see
Although the cloth was seen by none
It’s fineness they all decreed

They declared, “You should see it!”
“The best fabric in the land!”
But when the emperor took a peek
He did not understand

“There’s nothing there!” he muttered
“Am I a fool indeed?”
“It can not be!” he shuddered
“I’ll simply pretend I see.”

The weavers asked for gold galore
And feigned to work for days
They made him outfits by the score
Which baffled each person’s gaze

The day came for the procession
Right though the town square
He dressed to the elevens
But really, he was bare

The people bowed and curtsied
No ignorance to show
Only a little child could see
“The Emperor has no clothes!”