"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance."
The king's jester pulled on his leather boots. With great dignity, he placed his hat upon his head. Checking his form in the full length mirror, he smiled a sad smile.
He picked up his fool's scepter and began the long, dusty road to the castle. Arriving at the gate, he waved to the old toothless gatekeeper. “George, let me in. The king has requested my presence at today’s feast.” “Be still, foolish one. I am already at the crank,” snarled the wrinkled man. The gate groaned in pain as it slowly lifted its way up.
The jester strode through the gate merrily whistling and singing to himself. Greeting his old friends at the market, he told jokes, stories and made fun of their ways. His friends laughed at his witty insults and stories that made fun of the royal court. Waving goodbye to them, he left for his true performance. A small look of pain appeared on his face as he made his way through the courtyard.
Arrriving at the banquet, he began to poke fun at the various lords, calling them by various nicknames. He even made fun of their manhood and adulterous ways. They all laughed with him as he made his way around the table. His attention the full time was on the king. Working his way to the majesty, he juggled and sang well, but out of tune, his favorite ditties. Ignoring their drunken manners and cruelties to the serving wenches, he stepped up to the king
“Riddle me this. What wallows in a muddy pit of his own making? That lives off the work of other’s charity and knows not its lust or his reason. But is just a creature of his desires and lives only for the season.”
Such an easy riddle, fool,
It is a pig.
Yes sire, it is a pig.
The jester pulled a knife from his loose shirt
And plunged it into the king’s heart.
Author notes
Option 1 "Pictire Prompt"
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's own ignorance.
A contest entry
- Got A Crush On A Pretty Pistol [[Open 2 Everyone]] by brittany.geeze.
300 points, ended April 10, 2008, 9 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - The endless contest (or longest contest is more like it)! by Ted E Bare.
450 points, ended April 30, 2008, 96 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - OPTIONS - Come and see!!!! PW ARE ALLOWED - by mystic-angel.
900 points, ended May 19, 2008, 18 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Criticize freely, I need input to improve
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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I love this story, it's well written with a good surprise ending. I admire your talent as I've never been good at writing stories, just can't seem to end them well. You've done a great job here. Thanks for your entry. Good luck
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Surprising ending! I'd want to see a bit more of the king _being_ a pig, but I like the way you let the behavior of the courtiers speak its own volumes.
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I enjoued reading this,I liked the humor.I wasn't expecting it to end as it did. Wasn't sure how I was expecting it to end just wasn't expecting that.
Made me think
Wishing you the best always. Love ~sweetness~
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Thanks sugar
I love short stories. This is 'flash fiction' that will develop over time.
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Deep and thought provoking
my dear. I enjoyed this very much.
Real talk, here, definately.
All the best in the contest, and I hope to chat with you soon.
e
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Hey Ephiphany,
Your always there watching my back. Thank you, for all that time and support. May I return it tenfold.
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