http://www.noogenesis.com/pineapple/blind_men_elephant.htmlTHE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT
John Godfrey Saxe's ( 1816-1887) version of the famous Indian legend,
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 approach'd 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 his
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!