Poem: For want of a nail.....

[Tom Muller]

I just found this nice little poem. Enjoy.

For want of a nail the shoe is lost,
For want of a shoe the horse is lost,
For want of a horse the rider is lost,
For want of the rider the battle is lost,
For want of the battle the war is lost,
For want of the war the nation is lost,
All for the want of horseshoe nail.

George Herbert (1593-1633)

[Jim Bewley]

I hadn't read that in a very long time Tom. Thanks for posting it.

Jim

[Kentucky Horseman]

As anything throught about that poem and what the rider was doing for that to happen, he was either the commander or a messenger.

[Brian P.]

As anything throught about that poem and what the rider was doing for that to happen, he was either the commander or a messenger.

I had always thought that this poem referred to the unhorsing and death of Richard III during the War of the Roses. (Shakespeare's "A Horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse")

[Kentucky Horseman]

That is every possible, too. Those were the only two situations I could think of, where the lost of one rider could will a defeat.