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.
Said 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.
A Tragic Story
William Makepeace Thackeray
(14)
Poem topics: change, never, spin, place, face, mystery, handsome, Valentine's Day, Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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Write your comment about A Tragic Story poem by William Makepeace Thackeray
hifza: its a very funny poem and I love it.
Gwen A Cunningham: Like going down memory lane to live a bit of my elementary school days when I recited this poem at an elocution contest. I think I would have aced it now. I am glad to see that these timeless writings are still available.
stella: i love this poem
Sedra Albosstani: GAVE A DISLIKE
Sedra Albosstani: I HATE THIS POEM BECAUSE ITS SO LONG AND I HATE THAT MY TEACHER EARL IS MAKING ME DO IT AND MEMORIZE IT
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