The Story of the King and the Carpenter

Half my country for a worthy statue!

Gabriel loves creative statues,
A king admires the works of carpenters.
For many years and numerous days
Countless carpenters were invited to stay.
With the sight of many ornate objects
To all the statues, Gabriel rejects.
Valueless statues, that’s what he wants.
Gabriel ponders many nights
Until an idea was in sight.
The words of Gabriel were like golden
This is what was spoken:
A contest to all, I will say
A reward will be offered of day:
Half of my country
For a worthy statue given to me.
All across the country
To the capital, many carpenters flee.
On the day of judging,
Many carpenters and statues were gathered.
But none was successfully offered.
To all the statues, the King does say
Too fancy and too valuable for me to take.