There once was a man who took it amiss

Johann Vesque von Püttlingen

There once was a man who took it amiss

that his ponytail hung behind him:

he wanted a change.

He thinks, then, where shall I begin?

I'll turn myself around, and that's how it'll be done;

but the ponytail hangs behind him.

He turned about suddenly,

and as it was, it still remains:

the ponytail hangs behind him.

He turns quickly the other way,

but it does no better for it:

the ponytail hangs behind him.

He turns left, he turns right,

but he does neither good nor harm:

the ponytail hangs behind him.

He spins around like a top,

but it does not help: in short -

the ponytail hangs behind him.

And look: he's still turning!

he thinks it will help in the end;

yet the ponytail still hangs behind him.