Let me spirit you away
to ancient Cathay
where rules an emperor old and wise.
A daughter most fair
lives with him there,
for her discernment recognised.

As time passed, her father
would get into a lather
for the want of a suitor to find,
but the prospective spouse
could be no mouse
but should have wisdom, be gentle and kind.

A message is given
to whomsover is driven
for the hand of the princess, and more
that a rose which is blue
– such unfamiliar hue –
should be found and be brought to her door.

Seven score and ten,
all fine young men,
prospective suitors eager to please.
Hearing this charge,
they see it as large
(too great for the fifty who leave).

A man of the military,
in an act conciliatory,
demands the blue rose of his foe.
Thinks he ‘the lady will admire
such a handsome blue sapphire’.
But the princess responds with – ‘NO’.

A merchant by instruction
in the art of induction
dips the stalk of a white rose in red.
To the lady it is clear
from what she sees here
that the rose is not quite what he said.

A fine china cup
for the princess to sup
with a dainty blue rose painted on,
the Lord Chief Justice
offers his mistress,
which she claims for the gift yet to come.

A minstrel comes by
and ‘catches’ her eye
and she tells him about the said flower.
He says he will go
and search high and low
and promises to do all in his power.

On his way to the Palace
the minstrel dallies
and selects a common white rose.
When the princess has view,
she professes it blue,
changing courtiers brows into furrows.

The emperor intervenes
with his wise ways and means,
saying the princess needed no correction.
For indeed it is true,
the rose must be blue,
for she is known for her acute perception.

Re-telling in rhyme of the children’s tale by Maurice Baring which, as a child, I first read in my copy of ‘The Favourite Wonder Book’