Blind Men and the Elephant
Poem by John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887)

It was six men of Hindustan,
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 howl:
"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 its 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 spoke:
"I see," - quoted 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," - quoted he, -
"It’s clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!"

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!"

The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Then, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
"I see," - quoted he, - "the Elephant
Is very like a rope!"
And so, these men of Hindustan
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!