Edward Lear (1812-1888) was an English artist, illustrator, musician, author and poet. He is famous for his nonsense poetry like The Owl and the Pussycat and The Duck and the Kangaroo. He is also wrote many limericks (funny poems with five lines) that became very popular.
I
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo
"Good gracious! how you hop!
Over the fields and the water too,
As if you never would stop!
My life is a bore in this nasty pond,
And I long to go out in the world beyond!
I wish I could hop like you!"
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.
II
"Please give me a ride on your back!"
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.
"I would sit quite still, and say nothing but 'Quack,'
The whole of the long day through!
And we'd go to the Dee, and the Jelly Bo Lee,
Over the land, and over the sea;-
Please take me a ride! O do!"
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.
III
Said the Kangaroo to the Duck,
"This requires some little reflection;
Perhaps on the whole it might bring me luck,
And there seems but one objection.
Which is, if you'll let me speak so bold,
Your feet are unpleasantly wet and cold,
And would probably give me the roo-
Matiz!" said the Kangaroo.
IV
Said the Duck, "As I sat on the rocks,
I have thought over that completely,
And I bought four pairs of worsted socks
Which fit my web-feet neatly.
And to keep out the cold I've bought a cloak,
And every day I'll tell you a joke,
All to follow my own dear true
Love of a Kangaroo!"
V
Said the Kangaroo, "I'm ready!
All in the moonlight pale;
But to balance me well, dear Duck, sit already!
And quite at the end of my tail!"
So away they went with a hop and a bound,
And they hopped the whole world three times round;
And who so happy,-O who,
As the Duck and the Kangaroo?
Say true or false.
Choose the correct options.
"I would sit quite still, and say nothing but 'Quack,'
The whole of the long day through..."
"...And I bought four pairs of worsted socks
Which fit my web-feet neatly.
And to keep out the cold I've bought a cloak,
And every day I'll tell you a joke..."
"...My life is a bore in this nasty pond..."
There are a number of things mentioned in the poem that make no sense. Which do you think is the most absurd thing of all?