It’s been nearly two centuries since Hans Christian Andersen wrote the fairy tale “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”

Do you remember the story? Two con men trick the vain emperor, who thinks only of himself and his fancy clothes, no matter what the cost. They “weave” him a magnificent set of new clothes at great expense.

The clothes are magical, in that they’re invisible to anyone who is incompetent or stupid.

The emperor can’t see a stitch of the clothes – because, indeed, there are none. But not wanting to be thought a fool, he praises the tricksters and parades through the city to much acclaim.

That is, until a truthful child blurts out: The emperor has no clothes!

Did the emperor learn his lesson?

Mom put a new twist on the tale, giving it a sequel in 1977:

the emperor’s old clothes

after the notorious parade
the emperor became invisible inside his clothes
even in august he wore long mufflers and a hood
sometimes a mask his face was permanently red

the clothes were always old
selected from his brother’s missionary barrel
he went among the people and he learned a lot
but never that they all knew who he was
especially the child

~ joan vayo ~ 8 February 1977

… and may the children of the world live happily ever after.

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“the emperor’s old clothes” ©1977 joan vayo All rights reserved.

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