A Tragic Story - Audra McDonald

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

Say 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