Ten weary, footsore travellers,

All in a woeful plight,

Sought shelter at a wayside inn

One dark and stormy night.

‘Nine rooms, no more,’ the landlord said

‘Have I to offer you.

To each of eight a single bed,

A din arose. The troubled host

Could only scratch his head,

For of those tired men not two

Would occupy one bed.

The puzzled host was soon at ease -

He was a clever man -

And so to please his guests devised

This most ingeneous plan.

In a room marked A two men were placed,

The third was lodged in B,

The fourth to C was then assigned,

The fifth retired to D.

In E the sixth he tucked away,

In F the sventh man.

The eighth and ninth in G and H,

And then to A he ran,

Wherein the host, as I have said,

Had laid two travellers by;

Then taking one - the tenth and last -

He logged him safe in I.

Nine single rooms - a room for each -

Were made to serve for ten;

And this it is that puzzles me

And many wiser men.