Week 2 Story: The Jester's Account

Raft (Wikipedia)

Awoke I had, seeing naught but smoke
Billowing from the furnaces recently stoked.
Trying to clear it, I moved my hands
Only to find them tied up with bands.
The king enters, his voice commands:
"Bring him here, as he still stands!"
Slowly and steadily I approach,
He stares at me with eyes of reproach.
"Choose now which fate you will take,
To be imprisoned for life or burned at the stake."
His eyes glow with contempt.
I see his ruse and put forth my attempt.
"I'm fine with either," I say while frowning.
"But thank you for sparing me from drowning"
"Then drown you shall!", the king exclaims.
"Throw him to the ocean, and the sharks shall maim!"
I arrived at the beach, still in chains.
My attire weathered, covered with stains.
Without these locks, my hands could be free
I peek at a guard and find the key.
Stealthily and sneakily I hide this treasure
Within my mouth as extra measure.
The beach emerges as we climb the hill.
I can barely contain my cries of thrill.
We descend unto the glistening sand
As I ready the rusty key in hand.
Quickly and quietly I manipulate the metal
I loosen the locks; my nerves start to settle
I climb the raft which the guards lift
They set me free to sea adrift
Believing me to be helpless here
They leave the shore and disappear
When I see them leave I cry in joy
The foolish king fell for my ploy!
My arms free I gather some sticks
And place them in my hands betwixt.
Rowing restlessly 'round the reef
Wearing a grin of disbelief
I come to shore over yonder
I disembark and begin to wander.
I remember now why the king was mad.
I wouldn't stop rhyming.

Authors Note: I wanted something challenging so here it is. It turned out to take a long time as a result but it was still fun. The original story is about a frog who is captured by a king and he makes a bluff telling the king that he was afraid of water, so the king orders the turtle thrown into a river, to the turtle's benefit.

Bibliography: The Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt