Thursday, April 9, 2009

Hatching a What?

                                                      Wingla Dada

THEME THURSDAY requests items associated with EGGS.
http://themethursday.blogspot.com
The whole Dreamtime story can be read in this Aboriginal picture.The Platypus is, indeed, a very strange creature.It lays eggs and it has a beak, but suckles its young! In fact, when the first dried specimen was sent home to England in 1798, it was treated as a hoax!

HATCHING A WHAT?
Once, in the far-off dream-time some ducks lived in a pond.
They dared not venture out too far into the world beyond,
For Mulloka, the Water-Devil always lay in wait.
If Mulloka should catch them, how dire would be their fate!
But one small duck was restless and she paddled far away,
Intending to swim home again at the closing of the day.
At mid-day she was tired so she found firm ground and sat,
Not knowing she was sitting very near a Water Rat!
In fact, right on his roof she sat, as happy as could be,
But the Water Rat soon hove in sight to see what he could see!
The Water Rat was overjoyed to see the pretty duck,
For he'd been lonely all his life and this was a bit of luck!
'I want to marry you' he said, looking masterful and tough;
'Move into my watery nest with me and we'll do well enough!'
'No! No!' the little duck replied, crying great tears of woe,
'I cannot live my life with you! I beg you, let me go!'
'If you will not stay' said the Water Rat, 'Your remaining hours are few,
For Mulloka is a friend of mine and who knows what he will do!'
The poor duck simply had no choice; she became an unwilling wife
And living with the Water Rat she led a dreadful life.
One day she saw the Water Rat had fallen in a doze,
Nothing, not even quacking, could wake him from repose!
She dared the wrath of Mulloka and quickly swam away
Back up-stream to her family; that was where she'd stay.
They welcomed her ecstatically, so glad that she was found,
And, as time went on, the hatching time for duck-eggs came around.
And all her siblings waited round to see her babies hatch;
They remembered their own ducklings and expected hers to match.
And what was this! Her ducklings were as odd as odd could be!
They had webbed feet but four of them! The strangest sight to see!
True, they had beaks, as all ducks do, but they were wide and flat,
And the little beady eyes were those of her mate, the Water Rat!
Where were their feathers? They had fur, more like a rat or mouse,
They could see she had been married to a very mammalian spouse!
To top it all, on their legs were spurs that they didn't care to test!
It was decided that little duck should find another nest.
And so, with her offspring, she went off, derided and all alone,
To find a place where she could be with her family, on her own.
Thus started the tribe of the Platypus, a very odd tribe indeed.
And today there are many 'Gay-dari' for they found that they could breed.
But still they are suspicious and always try to hide.

So now you know the story of Water Rat and his Bride!

14 comments:

The Clever Pup said...

Hello RR.

I love your poem about the platypus. What crazy animals they have in Australia but the Platypus takes the cake.

So as you know, I didn't originate Theme Thursday (I probably should put a link somewhere). Here's the link for the group I participate in weekly. http://themethursday.blogspot.com

Why don't you join?

Hazel

DeniseinVA said...

Such a very enjoyable and interesting post. Loved your poem, and enjoyed the art. Thanks so much. Happy Easter

Wings1295 said...

That was quite different, thanks for sharing! :)

Tom said...

Terrific...and it must be true!

tut-tut said...

hello, RR! What a great contribution the TT! I love the aboriginal picture.

Ronda Laveen said...

what a great story, RR. I love the dreamtime. Thanks.

Mrsupole said...

That was such a great story and I love poems. I wondered how a platypus lays eggs and now I know.

Thank you for sharing. God bless.

Will be back for more poems.

lettuce said...

poor duck - I'm not surprised they try to hide if they were treated so badly!


great post

Coffee Messiah said...

Nicely done and Welcome Aboard ; )

Cheers!

Baino said...

G'day Rinkly, came over to check out your Platypus for TT. I very nearly went the dreamtime thing but ended up short of time and sticking to the facts! Great story. I have a wonderful coffee table book full of dreamtime stories, must dig it out and post a few! Cheers :)

Kris McCracken said...

The poor echinda.

Anonymous said...

Very cool tale and a bit sad at the same time. Love the poetry!

Dakota Bear said...

Interesting!

Kat said...

The cross connections has produced something pretty interesting..!!