There lived a sage in days of yore,
And he a handsome pigtail wore;
But wondered much and sorrowed more,
Because it hung behind him.
He mused upon this curious case,
And swore he'd change the pigtail's place,
And have it hanging at his face,
Not dangling there behind him.
Says he, "The mystery I've found -
Says he, "The mystery I've found!
I'll turn me round," - he turned him round;
But still it hung behind him.
Then round and round, and out and in,
All day the puzzled sage did spin;
In vain - it mattered not a pin -
The pigtail hung behind him.
And right and left and round about,
And up and down and in and out
He turned; but still the pigtail stout
Hung steadily behind him.
And though his efforts never slack,
And though he twist and twirl, and tack,
Alas! Still faithful to his back,
The pigtail hangs behind him.
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Comments
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From guest Lianonsidhe (contact)
This just goes to show vanity has a way of making us ridiculous! Loved the lines: All day the puzzled sage did spin In vain - it mattered not a pin -
I have never heard of this poem before, but it does have a sad ending. Poor little guy.
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Tragic Story
From guest Barbara Campbell (contact)
I learned this poem over 40 years ago at school in the West Indies. I have tried to remember the words to teach it to my grandkids. I am so happy to find the poem on this site! Thank you. -
" tragic story"
From guest Georgina Harris (contact)
I am looking for the illustration that went with this poem -
A Tragic Story - Thackery
From guest Gwen Hugo (contact)
I learned this poem at school about 40 years ago - and often, to this day, recall the first verse, but misquoted the third line. (But pondered much and worried more.) Anyhow, after it came up again in conversation today, I was so pleased to find the poem on the internet. And to find the author and the title, as well as the whole poem, because I could only remember the first verse! Thank you. -
learned this poem at school over 60 years ago and tried to find it in the poetry library without success. Thanks for helping me to find it on the Web !! I can still recite most of it by heart...
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Thank you Daniel, I've checked the text against other material and you are correct. The poem has been corrected. Thank you
Andrew
Old poetry staff -
3rd to last line;first word is "Ad". Shouldn't it be "And"?
You own a very reliable site, and should consider making a version for schools to subscribe to.
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