Many, many years ago, When animals could speak. wondrous thing the ducks befell, Their tale is quite unique.

Down by a pond dwelt all these ducks, Ten thousand at the least. Their duckish joys were undisturbed By any man or any beast.

One day down near the entrance gate, There was an awful din. A hundred hens all out of breath Were begging to come in.

“Oh let us in!” these poor birds cried, Before we do expire!” “Tis only by the merest inch That we escaped the fire!”

Their feathers burned, their combs a droop, They were the saddest sight. They’d run a hundred miles or more, all day and then all night.

“Come, come in!” the ducks all quacked, for you our hearts do bleed! We’ll share our happy lot with you, Just tell us what you need!”

And so these poor bedraggled hens Amongst the ducks moved in. For, after all, the ducks declared, “We’re sisters ‘neath the skin.”

Before too many months had passed, The hens were good as new. They sent for all their rooster friends, And these were welcomed too.

To please their host, these chickens tried To waddle and to quack. To simulate the duckish ways They quickly learned the knack.

This pleased the flock of ducks because It gratified their pride. ....But hear my tale and learn how they Got taken for a ride.

The ducks, it seemed, spent all their time In fixing up their place, In growing food and building homes And cleaning every space.

They asked the hens what they would do To earn their daily bread. “We’ll teach and write and entertain, And buy and sell,” they said.

And so these hens began to teach The baby ducks and chicks. They traded food and eggs and things, With many clever tricks.

They wrote great books & put on shows, Of genius they’d no lack. It wasn’t long till chickens owned The Duckville Daily Quack.

One day a mother duck who took Her ducklings to the lake, Was flabbergasted when one said, “A swim I will not take!”

“Why ducklings always swim!” she gasped, “It’s what you’re built to do! Like bunnies hop, and crickets chirp, And cows most always moo!”

“Your just old fashioned, a fuddy duck, That stuff is all old hat!” “It’s wrong for birds to swim; ...besides, It’s too cold on my little pratt!”

“Oh fie!” the mother duck exclaimed, “You’re talking like a fool!” Up quacked the other ducks and said, “He’s right! Ms. Hen taught us that in school!”

“Such things must stop!” the mother cried, “Those hens can’t teach such lies!” “For sheer ingratitude and nerve, I’m sure this takes the prize!”

....But she was wrong, for even then The hens did thump the tub. Demanding they be let into, The Duckville Swimming Club.

“But you don’t swim!” the ducks all cried, To join, why should you care?” “That’s not the point!” the hens replied, “To exclude us isn’t fair!”

The younger ducks, who’d been to school, Agreed right there and then, “To keep them out is bigotry!” “T’would just be ANTI-HEN...!”

Outnumbered by the younger ducks, The old ducks soon did loose; They agreed to let the hens all in, If they would pay the dues.

That night the Duckville Daily Quack Contained this banner spread: “Reactionary Ducks Are Licked!