Said the Tailor to the Bishop: Believe me, I can fly. Watch me while I try. And he stood with things That looked like wings On the great church roof-
That is quite absurd A wicked, foolish lie, For man will never fly, A man is not a bird, Said the Bishop to the Tailor.
Said the People to the Bishop: The Tailor is quite dead, He was a stupid head. His wings are rumpled And he lies all crumpled On the hard church square.
The bells ring out in praise That man is not a bird It was a wicked, foolish lie, Mankind will never fly, Said the Bishop to the People.
Said the Tailor to the Bishop:
Believe me, I can fly.
Watch me while I try.
And he stood with things
That looked like wings
On the great church roof-
That is quite absurd
A wicked, foolish lie,
For man will never fly,
A man is not a bird,
Said the Bishop to the Tailor.
Said the People to the Bishop:
The Tailor is quite dead,
He was a stupid head.
His wings are rumpled
And he lies all crumpled
On the hard church square.
The bells ring out in praise
That man is not a bird
It was a wicked, foolish lie,
Mankind will never fly,
Said the Bishop to the People.
--Bertold Brecht (via Benjamin Noys)