Six men of Hindustan
|
To learning much inclined
|
went to see the Elephant
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Though all of them were blind
|
That each by observation
|
Might satisfy his mind
|
Satisfy his mind, satisfy his mind
|
Six men of Hindustan
|
To learning much inclined
|
|
Well the First approached the Elephant
|
And happening to fall
|
Against his broad and sturdy side
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At once began to bawl
|
"God bless me!
|
But this Elephant is very like a wall!"
|
|
And 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!"
|
|
All of them were blind
|
All of them were blind
|
Six men of Hindustan
|
To learning much inclined
|
|
The Third approached the animal
|
And happening to take
|
The squirming trunk within his hands
|
Thus boldly up his spake
|
"I see," quoth he
|
"The Elephant is very like a snake!"
|
|
Then 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!"
|
|
And the Fifth who chanced to touch the ear
|
Said: "Even the blindest man
|
Can tell what this resembles most
|
Deny the fact who can
|
This marvel of an Elephant is very like a fan!"
|
|
And the Sixth no sooner had begun
|
about the beast to grope
|
Seizing on the swinging tail
|
that fell within his scope
|
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant is very like a rope!"
|
|
All of them were blind
|
All of them were blind
|
Six men of Hindustan
|
To learning much inclined
|
To learning much inclined
|
|
And so these men of Hindustan
|
Disputed loud and long
|
Each in his opinion
|
Exceeding stiff and strong
|
Each was partly in the right
|
but all were in the wrong
|
|
So often theologic wars,
|
The disputants, I ween
|
Rail on in utter ignorance
|
Of what each other mean
|
And prate about an Elephant
|
Not one of them has seen!
|
|
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|
The Blind Men And The Elephant
|
| Natalie Merchant |
