Australia has an animal
more curious than the rest -
let me describe the critter,
you name it for a test.
Its body bears a soft fur coat,
and ends in a fatty tail,
the feet are webbed for swimming,
with spurs upon the male.
You might have thought "a beaver"
and any would, until
they found its nest with tiny eggs,
and spied its black duck-bill.
It lives in streams and rivers
where forests loom above,
and early spring's the season
for platypedalian love.
A fortnight later come the eggs,
in two weeks more they hatch,
they don't increase so quickly,
just two eggs in a batch.
The baby platypuses
live only with their mom,
for dad has gone off fishing,
and lives a life of calm.
The duckbills were endangered
from hunting for their fur,
and fishermen were crazy
'bout their diet, as they were
concerned the platypi would eat
the fishies meant for them!
Not leaving room for nature
is oft the way of men.
A law passed in the seventies
protects these little guys,
their numbers are improving:
water moles in disguise.
Author notes
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/duckbill_platypus.htm
A contest entry
- #172 Winklings for Winklers and AP friends by Lyndon.
1950 points, ended April 23, 14 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Thank you for reading.
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
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I know you know I am an Australian.
Ornithorhynchus - I could spell that word 66 years ago, taught to me by my grandfather.
Quite a handsome poem. Thank you for entering.
I did like saying this aloud:
"and early spring's the season
for platypedalian love. "
[Could you fix the grammar so? - "The duckbills were endangered
from hunting for their fur," - keeping plurality]
Lovely, Ron of the Winklings.
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Dear Ron
Thank you first, for the grammatical correction. It often takes a second pair of eyes to see something that obvious! Next, thank you for the silver award. This contest was a pleasure to write for, and I'm happy that you enjoyed judging it.
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On a larger scale mankind may be regarded by other types of life similar to his observation of the platypus. Let's hope their conduct toward us may be less unkind than we were to this remarkable creature. Perhaps there were some issues overlooked by Mandelbrot concerning repetition of patterns on all scales. Thank you for creating and sharing this unique poem. I wish you the best of luck in the contest. Take care.
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How this poem flows and how informative it is! Conservationists should grab this one to help the cause. Hats off, Margaret!
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Yay for the weirdest creature!
Long live the fatipus-platypus!
A lovely and fitting tribute to our much-loved furry friend. I can never watch enough documentaries about them! Thank god for dear Sir David Attenborough (I met him when he came to Perth years ago).
Thank you, Sweet Pea, for sharing this delightful poem with us, and best of luck!
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Very cute!...with a subcurret of observance and wisdom to clutch at conscience. "platypedalian love" What smile! Great imagery and informative, too.
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I would love to see one! Nice write.
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This not only flowed superbly but it was very informative too!!!
Good luck
Hilyxxx
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Ah! So entertaining and informative!
You are truly a gifted poet to weave into words factual information with such a typical and vivid pen! Wondrous work, as always.
Love
Myra
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Excellent!
BTW: I also LOVE your profile pic. You remind me of Tiffany's personified in the colors that you wear. Your smile as sparkling as any diamond in a special Tiffany's box of the same colors that you wear.
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Dear Margaret,
I read your contest poem
as I was passing by
and I could not help wondering
if Yem would like to try
(unless it set him chundering)
a piece of Platy-pie
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Pondering "platypedalian" points
The poem was first rate beyond remotest doubt!
Kept my full attention all the way! Raised questions too about its origins, things I have no answers for.
Is it unique? I mean has anyone researched its development from earlier form --of what? Does it have related species? Mammals don't lay eggs. Birds don't have fur. HOW did it collect so many disparate parts into one well-functioning animal?
Now I won't rest until I know!
Kidding.
A great poem!
Terry
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