© 2004  Peter Roberts

in the beginning . . . was the end


"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

"once upon a time . . ."
a story must be told,
as stories often are
before they've grown old,
in rhythm & in rhyme.

as stories often are,
this story isn't so;
& yet, in spite of that,
there's truth in it, i know,
its fiction cannot mar.

& yet, in spite of that,
the story now begins.
many years ago
the world & all its sins
were kept inside a hat.

many years ago
a storyteller came
& put it on her head,
that hat without a name.
she took the hat, you know,

& put it on her head,
thus stories came about:
"once upon a time . . ."
is how she started out,
& this is what she said:

All work is copyrighted property of Peter Roberts.

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