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 the curious case,

and vowed 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.

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.

47and up and down and in and out

he turned, but still the pigtail stout

hung dangling there 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.