I Keep Six Honest...

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