A poem written by John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887) It was six men of Indostan The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, To learning much inclined Said: "E'en the blindest man Who went to see the Elephant Can tell what this resembles most; (Though all of them were blind), Deny the fact who can, That each by observation This marvel of an Elephant Might satisfy his mind Is very like a fan!" The First approached the Elephant, The Sixth no sooner had begun And happening to fall About the beast to grope, Against his broad and sturdy side, Then seizing on the swinging tail At once began to bawl: That fell within his scope, "God bless me! but the Elephant "I see," quoth he, "the Elephant Is very like a wall!" Is very like a rope." And so these men of Indostan The Second, feeling of the tusk, Disputed loud and long. Cried, "Ho! what have we here Each in his own opinion So very round and smooth and sharp? Exceeding stiff and strong, To me 'tis mighty clear Though each was partly in the right, This wonder of an Elephant And all were in the wrong. Is very like a spear!" The Third approached the animal, And happening to take The squirming trunk within his hands, Thus boldly up and spake: "I see," quoth he, "the Elephant Is very like a snake." The Fourth reached out an eager hand, And felt about the knee. "What most this wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain," quoth he; "Tis Clear enough the Elephant Is very like a tree."
A poem written by John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887) It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind), That each by observation Might satisfy his mind The First approached the Elephant, And happening to fall Against his broad and sturdy side, At once began to bawl: "God bless me! but the Elephant Is very like a wall!" The Second, feeling of the tusk, Cried, "Ho! what have we here So very round and smooth and sharp? To me 'tis mighty clear This wonder of an Elephant Is very like a spear!" The Third approached the animal, And happening to take The squirming trunk within his hands, Thus boldly up and spake: "I see," quoth he, "the Elephant Is very like a snake." The Fourth reached out an eager hand, And felt about the knee. "What most this wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain," quoth he; "Tis Clear enough the Elephant Is very like a tree." The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, Said: "E'en the blindest man Can tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can, This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a fan!" The Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope, Then seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope, "I see," quoth he, "the Elephant Is very like a rope." And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long. Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong, Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the wrong.
Poem%20-%20Blind%20men%20and%20the%20elephant.docx