Six blind men each feel a different part of an elephant in the dark and conclude that the elephant is something different based on their limited experience. The first feels the side and thinks the elephant is like a wall. The second feels the tusk and thinks it is like a spear. The third feels the trunk and thinks it is like a snake. The fourth feels the knee and thinks it is like a tree. The fifth feels the ear and thinks it is like a fan. The sixth feels the tail and thinks it is like a rope. They argue over their different conclusions, each being partially right but also wrong due to their limited individual perspectives.

2. Six opinionated men
To learning much inclined,
At midnight inspected an Elephant;
Though in the darkness blind,
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.

3. The First approached the Elephant
And, happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
“At last, I know the Elephant
Is very like a wall!"

4. The Second, feeling the tusk,
Cried, "Ho! what have I here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me it’s very clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!"

5. The Third approached the animal
And, happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up he spake:
"I see," said he, "The Elephant
Is very like a snake!"

6. The Fourth reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee:
"What most the wondrous beast is like
Is very plain," said he;
“It’s clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!"

7. 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!"

8. The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
"I see," said he, "the Elephant
Is very like a rope!"

9. So these opinionated men
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!

10. Though the elephant departed
Before the crack of dawn,
By each one standing in his place,
Conclusion was soon drawn.
Of this MAMMOTH animal
So little each had known.

11. But as each shared with others
The details which he knew,
And pieces fell in place
From each perspective view,
They sketched it all together
And ‘THE ELEPHANT’ they drew.