The Legendary Halfwit

"Let's all write a story using the same title!" That sounded like a good idea in writers group. Heh. Then I tried to write. Lacking a story, and fresh off an exploration of blank verse, I felt adventurous enough to risk making a fool of myself. Here ya go:

The legendary halfwit was a man
who didn't seem to be quite all that smart.
And yet he had the world in hand at times
when it would not have seemed to be so wise
to tell the truth about the things you see
to those who want to close their eyes instead.

A world of make believe is fine, but not
if you forget just where the story ends
and life, real life begins. Do you? Do I?
Or are we of the crowd who turns a blind
eye to the portions of our life where we
would rather not be made to face the truth?

The halfwit was so called at times when all
the world seemed to say yes and he alone
stood tall and quiet. No. He would not do
what he could see was not in line with truth.
He stood alone - but not alone - for truth
remained with him - the halfwit they all knew.


But legend takes a time to grow, its not
a thing of season, nor a thing of time.
So years of staying true and true built slow
a man who knew he knew, and did not need
another man to tell him how to think,
or how to be, or how indeed to live.

And then the tide of time washed out the sands
from underneath the castles built by those
who loved the fairy tale, and did not see
the line between the story and true life.
The make believe that they believed would be
forever-after crumpled at their feet.

So now the legend taller stood, alone
among the fallen ruins of the ones
who loved a lie and ever shunned the truth.
His story didn't change at all, but seemed
the more to grow with every passing storm.
The halfwit long forgot, a legend still.