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
Than, 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 opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong
Though each was partly in the right
And all were in the wrong!

Moral
So oft in 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!