A Ballad of Ducks by Andrew Barton Paterson
"A Ballad of Ducks" is a poem written by Andrew Barton Paterson in 1908. The poem tells the story of a group of ducks who live on a pond and their various adventures and experiences. The poem is known for its vivid imagery and use of language, which brings the reader into the world of the ducks. Throughout the poem, Paterson uses metaphors and similes to create a rich and engaging narrative that explores themes of nature, beauty, and the passing of time. The poem is often anthologized and studied in literature classes for its unique style and poetic devices.
By Andrew Barton Paterson · First published 1908 · Genre: Poetry, Ballads, Nature · 938 words
First lines
The railway rattled and roared and swung / With jolting carriage and bumping trucks. / The sun, like a billiard red ball, hung / In the Western sky: and the tireless tongue / Of the wild-eyed man in the corner told / This terrible tale of the days of old, / And the party that ought to have kept the ducks.
"Well, it ain't all joy bein' on the land / With an overdraft that'd knock you flat; / And the rabbits have pretty well took command; / But the hardest thing for a man to stand / Is the feller who says 'Well, I told you so! / You should ha' done this way, don't you know!' -- / I could lay a bait for a man like that.
What this Textopian page supports
A Ballad of Ducks is listed on Textopian as a poem by Andrew Barton Paterson, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Andrew Barton Paterson
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Ballads, Nature, Children's Literature
- Length: 938 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Ballad of Ducks by Andrew Barton Paterson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Poetry — Andrew Barton Paterson mainly wrote in verse, thus can be classified under the Poetry genre.
- Ballads — The title suggests that the book contains ballads, a form of verse often set to music or meant to be sung.
- Nature — The mention of 'Ducks' in the title possibly suggests a theme revolving around nature or environment.
- Children's Literature — Considering Paterson's other works, his approachable and relatable style might appeal to children.
Tags
poetry · nature · animals · ducks · australia · wildlife · environment · conservation · literary · classic · vintage · anthology