Social Commentaries

The Rabbinical Origin of Women

by Thomas Moore 1779–1852

From The Humorous Poetry of the English Language (ed. James Parton)

Social Commentaries

They tell us that Woman was made of a rib
Just pick'd from a corner so snug in the side;
But the Rabbins swear to you that this is a fib,
And 't was not so at all that the sex was supplied.

For old Adam was fashion'd, the first of his kind,
With a tail like a monkey, full a yard and a span;
And when Nature cut off this appendage behind,
Why--then woman was made of the tail of the man.

If such is the tie between women and men,
The ninny who weds is a pitiful elf;
For he takes to his tail, like an idiot, again,
And makes a most damnable ape of himself!

Yet, if we may judge as the fashions prevail,
Every husband remembers the original plan,
And, knowing his wife is no more than his tail,
Why--he leaves her behind him as much as he can.

MLA

Moore, Thomas. “The Rabbinical Origin of Women.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/moore/787/.

Chicago

Moore, Thomas. “The Rabbinical Origin of Women.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/moore/787/.

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