Lord Macaulay’s
Cut off my head, and singular I am;
Cut off my tail, and plural I appear;
Cut off my head and tail, and, wondrous feat!
Although my middle’s left, there’s nothing there.
What is my head, cut off?—a sounding sea;
What is my tail, cut off?—a rushing river;
And in their mighty depths I fearless play,
Parent of sweetest sounds, yet mute forever.