The Blockchain and the Elephant
(Based on an original poem by John Godfrey Saxe)
It was six blind men of Skepticland, to learning much inclined,
who went to see the elephant,
that each by observation, might satisfy his mind.
The first approached the elephant, and, happen to fallet,
against his broad and sturdy side, at once began to wave his mallet:
‘God bless me! but the elephant, is nothing but a wallet!’
The second feeling of the tusk, cried: ‘Ho! what have we here,
so very round and smooth and sharp? To me tis mighty clear,
this wonder of an elephant, is very like a register!’
The third approached the animal, and, happening to muster,
the squirming trunk within his hands, ‘I see,’ quoth he,
the elephant is very like a ledger!’
The fourth reached out his eager hand, and felt about the knee:
‘What most this wondrous beast is like, is mighty plain,’ quoth he;
’Tis clear enough the elephant is very like a chain that can be knead.’
The fifth no sooner had begun, about the beast to grope,
than, seizing on the swinging tail, that fell within his scope,
‘I see,’ quothe he, ‘the elephant can very much be used to trade dope!’
The sixth, who chanced to touch the ear, said; ‘E’en the blindest man
can tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an elephant, is very like a virtual currency and must be ban!’
And so these men of Skepticland, disputed loud and long,
each in his own opinion, exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right, and all were in the wrong!
So, oft in cryptocurrency wars, the disputants, I ween,
tread on in utter ignorance, of what each other mean,
and prate about the elephant, not one of them has seen!
