The Duck and the Kangaroo

by


Edward Lear published this charming poem in his collection, Lear's Nonsense Drolleries: The Owl and the Pussy Cat and the Duck and the Kangaroo, illustrated by William Foster (1889). It remains a favorite for early readers to build confidence.


illustration for The Duck and the Kangaroo SAID the Duck to the Kangaroo, "Good gracious! how you hop Over the fields and the water too, As if you never would stop! illustration for The Duck and the Kangaroo 1 My life is a bore in this nasty pond, And I long to go out in the world beyond! illustration for The Duck and the Kangaroo 2 I wish I could hop like you!" Said the Duck to the Kangaroo. illustration for The Duck and the Kangaroo 3 "Please give me a ride on your back!" Said the Duck to the Kangaroo. "I would sit quite still, and say nothing but 'Quack,' The whole of the long day through! illustration for The Duck and the Kangaroo 4 And we'd go to the Dee, and the Jelly Bo Lee, Over the land, and over the sea;— Please take me a ride! O do!" Said the Duck to the Kangaroo. Said the Kangaroo to the Duck, "This requires some little reflection; Perhaps on the whole it might bring me luck, And there seems but one objection, illustration for The Duck and the Kangaroo 5 Which is, if you'll let me speak so bold, Your feet are unpleasantly wet and cold, And would probably give me the roo- Matiz." said the Kangaroo. illustration for The Duck and the Kangaroo 6 Said the Duck, "As I sate on the rocks, I have thought over that completely, And I bought four pairs of worsted socks Which fit my web-feet neatly illustration for The Duck and the Kangaroo 7 And to keep out the cold I've bought a cloak And every day a cigar I'll smoke, All to follow my own dear true Love of a Kangaroo!" Said the Kangaroo, "I'm ready! All in the moonlight pale; But to balance me well, dear Duck, sit steady! And quite at the end of my tail!" So away they went with a hop and a bound, And they hopped the whole world three times round; And who so happy,—O who, As the Duck and the Kangaroo? illustration for The Duck and the Kangaroo 8


Featured in our selection of Children's Poems.

Enjoy the companion poem in Lear's collection, The Owl and the Pussy-Cat, a text exemplar for kindergarten and first grade students.

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Add The Duck and the Kangaroo to your library.

Return to the Edward Lear library , or . . . Read the next poem; The Jumblies

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