The Duck
There came into my yard a duck,
And he and I, being both in luck,
Found me absorbed in a favorite book
When he came by to take a look.
I went inside to get some bread.
Returning to my guest I said,
“You look like you could use a meal.
If so, we might can make a deal.
If you will eat, then I will feed,
And both may gain a thing we need,
You the gift, and I the giving,
The better we may go on living.”
On my third throw he realized that
I was throwing to, instead of at.
And he, walking on pigeon toes,
Consumed all those and future throws.
We played the Priest and Supplicant.
Wherever I threw was where he went.
And when we both had had our fill
He flew away until, until.
R. G. Bell (Circ.1985)
R.G. i could have copied the comment below, but i try not to plagiarize. this is a super story, well-told, and well-enjoyed. there, i did not COPY the other comment (word for word) . might can make a deal.....might can is a bit foreign to me, but i think i have heard such a link of words sometime in the distant past. i would simply write might or can, not both. but perhaps your way is the usual for you, and it does allow the poem to flow better, both of which i totally respect! ok, i just did some syllable-counting and count 8 or 9 syllables in that and surrounding lines. well done. i used to be more particular while composing my poems and counted syllables as best as i could. but a good friend, not a poet, suggested my method, at times at least, detracted from the poem(s) . he probably would not find fault with The Duck. thanks for sharing. bri
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
We played the Priest and Supplicant. Wherever I threw was where he went. And when we both had had our fill He flew away until, until. a very fine story..... one of the best of its kind. thank u dear poet for the story.. tony