May 23 2011

Why?

I KEEP six honest serving-men
 (They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When 
 And How and Where and Who.
I send them over land and sea,
 I send them east and west;
But after they have worked for me,
 I give them all a rest.

I let them rest from nine till five,
 For I am busy then,
As well as breakfast, lunch, and tea,
 For they are hungry men.
But different folk have different views; 
I know a person small—
She keeps ten million serving-men,
Who get no rest at all!

She sends’em abroad on her own affairs,
 From the second she opens her eyes—
One million Hows, two million Wheres,
And seven million Whys!

From The Elephant’s Child, one of the Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling

Thanks to Charles for the lead.

One Response to “Why?”

1. C says:

   May 23, 2011 at 11:51 pm

   Very good.Not long now before I’m assaulted by ten million serving-men. Can’t wait!

   Reply