Explanation of the Poem
Stanza 1
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.
“Good gracious! how you hop!
Over the fields and the water too,
As if you never would stop!
My life is a bore in this nasty pond,
And I long to go out in the world beyond!
I wish I could hop like you!”
Said the Duck to ‘the Kangaroo.
Explanation
The poet portrays a conversation between a Duck and his friend Kangaroo in this poem. The Duck expressed amazement at his friend Kangaroo’s ability to hop across fields and water bodies. He asserts that jumping looks to be endless. Additionally, the Duck said that he was dissatisfied with his existence in that pond. He yearned to get out into the world beyond that pond. He demonstrated his incapacity to hop in the manner of the Kangaroo. He was very depressed as a result of his incompetence.
Stanza 2
“Please give me a ride on your back!”
Said that Duck to the Kangaroo.
“I would sit quite still, and say nothing but
‘Quack’,
The whole of the long day through!
And we’d go to the Dee, and the Jelly Bo Lee.
Over the land, and over the sea;
Please take me a ride! 0 do!”
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.
Explanation
The poet expands on the discourse between the Duck and the Kangaroo in this stanza. The Duck is pleading with the Kangaroo to let him ride on his bock so he may view the whole world. He stated that he would sit still and just say ‘quack’. They would spend the day visiting several locations that were both beautiful and satisfying. They had intended to fly across the land and the oceans. The Duck wanted to visit unique locations such as ‘Dee’ and ‘Jelly Bo Lee’. After saying all of this, the Duck repeated his appeal to the Kangaroo for permission to ride on his bock.
Stanza 3
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,
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.
Explanation
In this stanza, the poet provides the Kangaroo’s response to the Duck’s request mode. The Duck’s persistent pleading convinced the Kangaroo to accept it. The Kangaroo believed that his excursion would bring him good fortune. The Kangaroo informed the Duck that there is a need for thought in order to make the voyage practicable and pleasant. The Kangaroo raised an objection before the Duck, stating that he would only do so if the Duck permitted him to do so. The Kangaroo objected to the Duck’s very damp and chilly feet. ” If the Kangaroo let the duck with the cold feet ride his bock, he would almost certainly catch a cold. Thus, the Kangaroo expressed his point succinctly.
Stanza 4
Said the Duck, “As I sat on the rocks,
I have thought over that completely,
And I bought four pairs of worsted socks
Which fit my web-feet neatly.
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!”
Explanation
The stanza details the situation after the Kangaroo’s refusal to grant a ride on his bock. The Duck devises a solution. He explained to the Kangaroo that he had considered it thoroughly while seated on the rocks. He informed the Kangaroo that he had bought several pairs of worsted fine smooth yarn) socks and a cloak to keep him warm. The socks will keep his web-like sensation dry, which is always moist, and the cloak will keep him warm. Additionally, he had chosen to smoke a cigar in order to keep himself warmer. He explained to Kangaroo that since he loved him, he had previously prepared with all of this in order to assure his comfort.
Stanza 5
Said the Kangaroo, ‘Tm 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 – 0 who,
As the Duck and the Kangaroo?
Explanation
The poet explains the journey undertaken by the Duck and the Kangaroo in the last verse. The Kangaroo informed the Duck that they would begin their journey under the light of the moon. The Kangaroo advised the Duck to maintain a solid position at the end of his tail in order to balance his hop appropriately. With all preparations and instructions in place, the two started on their voyage into the world. They roamed the world three times. Finally, the poet poses the question: Which of the two animals, the Duck or the Kangaroo, would have been happier?