Another one from the Gul Mohar or Adventures in Reading days (forgot which class this was though)... The Blind Man and the Elephant :-John Godfrey Saxe 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 her; "'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 own 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!