As I was going to St Ives
I met a man with seven wives
Said he, 'I think it's much more fun
Than getting stuck with only one.'
Notes
Obviously based on the old Nursery Rhyme from around 1730 which, in turn, was probably based on Problem 79 of the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus dated around 1650 BC.
As I was going to St Ives
I met a man with seven wives
And every wife had seven sacks
And every sack had seven cats
And every cat had seven kits
Kits, cats, sacks, wives
How many were going to St Ives?
The answer obviously depends on wether the writer overtook the man going in the same direction or if the man was coming from St Ives
JS
Leave a guest comment (subject to review)
Comments
1 - 17 of 17
-
answer
From guest john (contact)
The Answer to the Riddle Only one man was going to St.Ives! He met the following who were going the other way: A man (1) with 7 wives 7 x 7 (49) sacks 7x7x7 (343) cats 7x7x7x7 (2,401) kits A Total of 2,801 wives, sacks cats and kits! -
I heard of this one before, the one from the author's notes.. I really do like the shorter version of this though..
kat -
hi
From guest PWINSESSJOJO (contact)
i had heard of that before and its one of my favorite poems and i am using it for my poems book and told darl but tHAT PEICE WAS BRILL WELL DONE -
-
I didn't know that one! I like it! I like the way Dahl uses sarcasm a lot of the time, just like here.
-
does this mean he has 7 mothers in law? LOL I imagine Roald was so happy he was going in the opposite direction.
Tongue in cheek
-
-
Like many teachers before me (back to about 1600BC) I used the original rhyme in my Maths classes.
Jim
-
-
I have a man.... I just hope that he isn't sneaking around with 6 other chics....I might have to defend my territory!LOL!!
I ALWAYS do...back off...j/k!
lol!!
-
7 wives? well how on earth many children does he have
Well hopefull ill get one man or maybe three
no just jk
Great funny one -
ya Good for U...
-
Wow...short and sweet...it seems even Polygimasts have a sense of humor...*(when they are not beating one of their many wives
)*
-
Wow, seven opportunities to be incompetent.
No thank you. One is more than enough.
John -
this is a very beautiful little funny piece..
-
LOLOLOLOL!!!
I tutor an 8th grader in Algebra, and in her math book was the following poem.
"As I was going to St. Ives I met a man with seven wives,
Each wife had seven sacks, each sack had seven cats,
Each cat had seven kits
kits, cats, sacks and wives,
How many were going to St. Ives?"
I think it's absolutely hysterical that Dahl wrote the first few lines, it doesn't seem like him at all. -
I've never heard of Roald Dahl writing something like this...It seems like something Shel Silverstein would write.
Almost a limerick... -
Hm, short and sweet, but good nonetheless. It's very cutely written, you can take that in any way you like, but i don't mean it offensively. It was a short story that made me smile, i send you my props.
-
I think I remember reading this piece somewhere, under a desk in high school perhaps or something to that effect.
It is a nice little ditty
-
A short poem from a man who likes to ramble! I have been in love with Mr. Dahl's writing's since a youngling, and still am to this day. This poem is short, yet sweet. It's the humour and the playfullness that makes this poem a pleasure to read. And also, the topic is pretty funny!
-
LMAO. Wasn't he a lucky feller?
-
lol
Some are lucky to even get one.
Adding your comment:
1 - 17 of 17
