Mother Duck-Poem?

Question

"Mother Duck"

See the firm mother duck

And the ducklings she tucks

Safe away

From the world,

Where anything can

Happen without plan.

They're so cute, but I know

That they're hers and I can't

Get too near

Or she'll anger at me

And will be

Struck with fear.

And her ducklings are safe

Just as she once

Was safe

With her own mother

Duck, who would smother

And tuck

All the little ducklings

Safe from harm,

And the world

With a warm mother's wing.

Answer 1

Oh I just love "With her own mother Duck, who would smother And tuck" - it must be with the soundings or something - can't really put my finger on it - but that phrase is a keeper.  I kept getting a pleasing sense of repetition - though the exact wording was not found to be so. I think it has something to do with "implied repetition" from a visual standpoint. Maybe it is just the word "tuck" that sets it all off? ♥

Answer 2

I think Lily is on to something. For me the genius of this poem is its rhythm. It comes close to the rhythm of the duck as she waddles along.

There has been some extensive research as to what makes people laugh. The psychologists doing this study came to the conclusion that, of all birds, it is the duck who is the funniest (followed by the penguin and the chicken). They posited that this is because of the manner in which they walk. You seem to have known that intuitively.  

Also, I love the playfulness of the rhymes. Altogether, this is a delight.