It happened in the middle of a lake one day

The story which I'm going to relate to you may

Bring tears of sadness or even large smiles

But it will be remembered for miles and miles



It's about two ducklings which often swam about

As a couple, and people would look on and shout

Mean things at them both because they were ugly

Especially the smaller one, who wasn't so snugly



Regardless, they would together cajole and play

Until one of them said to the other "Let's stay 

... here forever swimming in this great big lake

And we will fix up it as our home so we can take



In guests and give parties and entertain people

And in time, we will have a much better credo

Which will come from sharing right through time

For we will lead each other, and not be blind"



Well ... it sounded really fine to the small duck

Who had been completely (in looks) plumb outta luck

So they two agreed to share everything from then on

And as time went on, they even sang some fine songs



Then one day the larger duck went to find his friend

But could not, as he seemed to have disappeared off end

Of the world - and the poor duck could not understand

Where his friend was - for he was nowhere on the land



And out in the water was only a very pretty white swan

Who gracefully glided, as he floated out to the sand

Which surrounded the small island where the two ducks

Had built their home together with care and some luck



Now this strange swan was clambering up on the shore

And the duck looked on and wondered what cheek he bore

To be marching up onto the island home they'd both built

Right from the ground up - supporting it all with stilts



And so he swam and swam as hard as he could to catch up

To keep the swan from wandering into their home for sup

And then he got to the shore and waddled up there close

Remembering all the energy they two had put into it from

                                           top to toes



And then as he got there - he heard a familiar sound

It was his friend's quack - of that he was sure, bound

Up with other sounds which were not quite so familiar

And so he plucked up his ears and tried even harder ...



And then he focused on the source of these new cries

And was astonished to realize they were from the prize

This beautiful white swan was making the new quacks

And mixed in with them - were his old friend's clacks



And suddenly he realized his old friend was still here

But no longer was he a duck, had never been one clear

He'd always been a swan - but he'd known him as a pet

When in fact - his friend had always been a cygnet ...



- Tristram