T'was that time of year

When ducks start to hear

The calling to take to the sky.

And on Puddley Pond

Amongst all the fronds

Beans the Duck let out a big sigh.

"I suppose that I oughta

Get away from this water

And fly south like proper ducks do.

But what happens, say

If I get lost on the way?

I could end up in Timbuktu".

So he said his goodbyes

With tears in his eyes

To friends he had made round the pond.

And especially to Matt

The big water rat

Who Beans was especially fond.

With the flapping of wings

And a few other things

Beans finally took to the sky.

He circled above

And just missed a dove

Who happened to be just flying by.

He shouted down

To his friends on the ground

"See you all when it starts to get warm."

From below they all waved

"Make sure you behave,"

Shouted Matt from the edge of the lawn.

The higher Beans flew

The more that he knew

Instinctively which way to go.

He was a duck with a plan

With only the land

To guide his way from below.

On and on Beans flew

Over vast oceans blue

He was flapping with all his might.

Silly Beans should’ve stuck

With the rest of them ducks

When he saw them turn off to the right.

But still he flew on

And it wasn't too long

Before black clouds gathered ahead.

Beans tried to change course

But a wind of some force

Drew him into the storm instead.

He was tossed all about

And started to shout

For other ducks to give him a hand.

There was thunder and lightning

Beans found it quite frightening

When things didn't go quite to plan.

Without too much damage

Our little duck managed

To fly into a rather calm pocket.

The storm was a doozy

And Beans was quite woozy

As his eyes spun around in their sockets.

Battered and bruised

And a little confused

Beans sense of direction had ceased.

He just didn't know

which way to go

‘Cos instead of flying south, he flew east.

He flew on for miles

And after a while

Beans realised he was hopelessly lost.

Especially when

He flew over again

An island he previously crossed.

Still he flew on

And it wasn't too long

Before Beans thought he saw something shiny.

He hoped like crazy

His eyes weren't just lazy

From looking at the bright blue briny.

He was right! He was right!

It was land alright

And Beans couldn't be more elated.

But that feeling was brief

'Cos his mood turned to grief

In fact, he was downright deflated.

Beans couldn't speak

‘cos there on the beach

Was a sign which Beans thought untrue.

It filled him with dread

When he realised it said

'Hola. Bienvenido a Peru!'

He read the sign twice

Not believing his eyes

"How on earth can I be in Peru?"

But when Beans was calmer

He noticed a llama

So he knew it must somehow be true.

Little Beans was stuffed

And quite a bit puffed

So he landed quite close to the shore.

He then asked a chap

With a fisherman’s cap

“Hey mate, where am I…per favore?”

“Ees thees some kind of trick?

Ow can thees duck speak?”

Said the chap as reeled back in shock.

But Beans didn’t reply

He thought he might try

Asking others who worked on the dock.

“Hey little amigo

I can help you…no?”

Cried the man as ran after Beans.

“Thees nasty weather

Has messed up your feathers

Come rest and have some sardines.”

After he ate

Beans discovered his fate

He wasn’t far from the city of Lima.

But Beans wasn't well

And his big coughing spell

Sounded like he had emphysema.

Little Beans was crook

And his whole body shook

With a fever of a hundred and five.

His south-flying goal

Had taken its toll

And our hero was barely alive.

But the man named José

Nursed Beans night and day

Until he was a strong duck again.

Then with one massive quack

Beans said, "I'm back…

And it's time I went home my friend."

"I just happen to be

Off to Sydernee"

Said José, as he swatted a mozzie.

And I can tell from my ear

That you're not from round ‘ere

In fact, I theenk you are Aussie.

"Too right I am mate

And I just can't wait

To get home to my friends back in Oz.

And I just want to say

You're a good bloke José

Even though you have a big snoz."

Beans and José

Soon got under way

And headed out across the Pacific.

The trip was quite long

But they sang the odd song

And listened to some old Spanish music.

Back on dry ground

Beans reluctantly found

Himself saying goodbye to José.

"Adios little Beans

We make a great team

Maybe we'll meet again some day."

As Beans flew away

He looked back at José

And he knew they'd created a bond.

What an adventure they'd had

But boy he was glad

To fly back to his friends at the pond.

The End

©Copyright Steve Williss 2016