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Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Tuesday's Cartoon Guffaws
You know, some days I really miss the late Sam Gross. 😎
Sam Gross - truly outstanding in his field - the added verse in here, which was written in the 20th century, is based on one of his cartoons. Except for that verse, the poem and commentary are from poetry.com
The Blind Men 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 the tusk, Cried, "Ho! what have we here So very round and smooth and sharp? To me 'tis very 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 he 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 the wondrous beast is like Is very plain," quoth he; "Tis 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," quoth he, "the Elephant Is very like a rope!"
The seventh blind man, staff in hand, On his bare feet did go. "I clearly sense," he firmly said, "And wish for all to know The elephant is soft and squishy In between the toes!"
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, They all were in the wrong!
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!
About this poem
This poem is a rhymed re-telling of the classic Hindu fable. The "moral" of the story is revealed in the last stanza, which commonly is omitted in recitation, so not to offend the sensibilities of self-righteous and willfully ignorant religious folk.
Hey there's a Friday idea. Best or worst Post-Elvis use of bagpipes in popular music. Ha.
ReplyDeleteOy gevalt. 😎
DeleteSam Gross - truly outstanding in his field - the added verse in here, which was written in the 20th century, is based on one of his cartoons. Except for that verse, the poem and commentary are from poetry.com
ReplyDeleteThe Blind Men 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 the tusk,
Cried, "Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me 'tis very 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 he 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 the wondrous beast is like
Is very plain," quoth he;
"Tis 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," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a rope!"
The seventh blind man, staff in hand,
On his bare feet did go.
"I clearly sense," he firmly said,
"And wish for all to know
The elephant is soft and squishy
In between the toes!"
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,
They all were in the wrong!
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!
About this poem
This poem is a rhymed re-telling of the classic Hindu fable. The "moral" of the story is revealed in the last stanza, which commonly is omitted in recitation, so not to offend the sensibilities of self-righteous and willfully ignorant religious folk.
Words fail me. 😎
DeleteBurns Night is coming up soon. Enough of the bagpipe bashing!
ReplyDeleteAgreed, laddie. We have a local business, the Scottish Plumber. His slogan: The pipes are calling.
DeleteLove the Harlem Nocturne gag.
ReplyDelete- Paul in DK
The U2-D2 gag mashes up two things that started out exciting and became tiresome.
ReplyDeletePanel #2 - Calvin and Hobbs
ReplyDelete" The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
The Revolution Will Not Be Brought To You"
GSH. 😉
Love the Calvin & Hobbes strip!
ReplyDeleteAnother funny batch! Gross was great, and the sax plumbing is very funny!
ReplyDelete