Most unusual is Pippa
A ‘mix and match’ of features
One may think perhaps
Belong to other creatures

Her home’s a flowing stream
With banks on either side
In which she has a burrow
A safe, dry place to hide

Her face is like a duck
Yet no quack is heard
Fur instead of feathers?
She is not a bird!

But Pippa lays eggs
And feeds young with milk
A swift and streamlined swimmer
With style smooth as silk

Shy and rarely seen by day
She waits until twilight
Diving into cold and dark
To feed throughout the night

How does she find some food?
Receptors in her bill
Help her catch shrimp and worms
She can have her fill!

Pippa has become a Mum
She’s raised a little one
Playing in the burrow
His time has just begun

Growing strong, it won’t be long
Till Puggles takes his turn
Joining in with nature
A role he needs to learn

Quiet and reclusive
Pippa makes no fuss
But she’s so important
To each and all of us

Protect and save our waters
Rivers, ponds and streams
We must see, she’ll always be
Not just in our dreams!

Puggles is four months old
Almost fully grown
‘Tis time for him to venture out
And make it on his own

Pippa’s care has served him well
But now her job is done
He’s ready to explore their stream
With setting of the sun

Photo by Aaron De Wit on Unsplash