The Duck and The Kangaroo

Introduction

The poem is about two friends, a Duck and a Kangaroo, who want to go on a long journey together. The Kangaroo can travel easily, but he is worried about the Duck’s wet feet.

Stanza 1

“Said the Duck to the Kangaroo,”
→ The Duck starts talking to the Kangaroo.

“Good gracious! how you hop!”
→ The Duck is surprised and impressed by how well the Kangaroo hops.

“Over the fields and the water too,”
→ The Kangaroo can move easily over land and water.

“As if you never would stop!”
→ He seems tireless and never gets tired.

“My life is a bore in this nasty pond,”
→ The Duck is bored of living in the dirty pond.

“And I long to go out in the world beyond!”
→ She wants to see places outside the pond.

“I wish I could hop like you!”
→ The Duck wishes she could travel like the Kangaroo.

“Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.”
→ Repeats that the Duck is speaking.

Stanza 2

“Please give me a ride on your back!”
→ The Duck politely asks the Kangaroo to carry her.

“Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.”
→ Again shows who is speaking.

“I would sit quite still, and say nothing but ‘Quack,’”
→ She promises to behave quietly.

“The whole of the long day through!”
→ She will stay calm for the entire journey.

“And we'd go to the Dee, and the Jelly Bo Lee,”
→ They would travel to far-away places.

“Over the land, and over the sea;”
→ They would travel everywhere.

“Please take me on a ride! O do!”
→ She begs him again.

“Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.”
→ Repetition for rhythm.

Stanza 3

“Said the Kangaroo to the Duck,”
→ Now the Kangaroo replies.

“This requires a little reflection;”
→ He wants to think about it carefully.

“Perhaps on the whole it might bring me luck,”
→ He thinks the trip could be good.

“And there seems but one objection,”
→ There is only one problem.

“Which is, if you'll let me speak so bold,”
→ He asks permission to speak honestly.

“Your feet are unpleasantly wet and cold,”
→ The Duck’s feet are wet and cold.

“And would probably give me the roo-”
→ He is worried they may harm him.

“Matiz!’ said the Kangaroo.”
→ He fears he might get rheumatism (joint pain).

Stanza 4

“Said the Duck, ‘As I sat on the rocks,”
→ The Duck explains her plan.

“I have thought over that completely,”
→ She has already thought about the problem.

“And I bought four pairs of worsted socks”
→ She bought warm woollen socks.

“Which fit my web-feet neatly.”
→ The socks fit her feet perfectly.

“And to keep out the cold I’ve bought a cloak,”
→ She also bought a coat.

“And every day a cigar I’ll smoke,”
→ She will smoke to stay warm.

“All to follow my own dear true”
→ All this is for her love.

“Love of a Kangaroo!”
→ She truly loves and admires the Kangaroo.

Stanza 5

“Said the Kangaroo, ‘I’m ready!”
→ The Kangaroo agrees.

“All in the moonlight pale,”
→ They start their journey at night.

“But to balance me well, dear Duck, sit steady!”
→ He asks her to sit carefully.

“And quite at the end of my tail!’”
→ She must sit on his tail.

Stanza 6

“So away they went with a hop and a bound,”
→ They begin their journey happily.

“And they hopped the whole world three times round;”
→ They travel all over the world.

“And who so happy, – O who,”
→ The poet asks who could be happier.

“As the Duck and the Kangaroo?”
→ No one is happier than them.

The poem shows friendship, adjustment, love, and joy in sharing adventures.

Summary: 

The poem is about a Duck who is bored with her life in a pond and wants to see the world. She admires the Kangaroo, who can hop easily over land and water, and asks him to give her a ride on his back.

The Kangaroo agrees but is worried that the Duck’s wet and cold feet might make him ill. The Duck solves this problem by wearing warm socks, a cloak, and promising to keep herself warm.

Satisfied, the Kangaroo agrees, and they set off together on a joyful journey. They travel all over the world and are very happy. The poem shows friendship, cooperation, and how caring for each other makes adventures enjoyable.

Glossary

• Worsted socks – woollen socks, made of warm yarn.

Working with the Poem: The Duck and the Kangaroo

1. Rhyming Words

Look at the words at the end of the lines. Five pairs of rhyming words:

1. pond – beyond

2. hop – stop

3. through – too

4. cold – sold

5. tail – pale

(Read each pair aloud – you will hear the rhyming sound.)

2. Complete the Dialogue

Duck: Dear Kangaroo! Why don’t you take me on a ride?

Kangaroo: With pleasure, my dear Duck, though I have one small worry.

Duck: That won’t be a problem. I will wear socks and a cloak to keep my feet warm.

3. Rheumatism in Stanza 3

• Rheumatism is the word in stanza 3.

• It is split into “roo-Matiz” in the poem for rhythm and rhyme.

• The second part begins with a capital letter to show it is a new part of the word in the rhyme.

• This is called a poetic split, often done to make the poem sound funny or fit the meter.

4. Humorous Lines in the Poem

Some funny or laugh-worthy lines:

• “Your feet are unpleasantly wet and cold, And would probably give me the roo-Matiz!”

• “And every day a cigar I’ll smoke, All to follow my own dear true Love of a Kangaroo!”

• The idea of a Duck wearing socks and smoking a cigar is very funny!

A February Surprise – Quick Summary

• The poem describes trees waking up after a snowfall.

• The trees seem surprised and shake off the snow.

• It gives a funny, lively image, as if the trees are surprised humans.