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Don Mulford

The Afterthought

Creation was completed - all the plans and all the charts
Were filed away but there remained a big box of spare parts.
The Maker looked them over and he thought, What can I make?
To waste these bits and pieces would be such a sad mistake!
He dug deep down into the box to see what he could find
And came upon an odd shaped tail a beaver’d left behind.
Once more he rummaged in the box until at last he felt
A lithe brown body, covered by a smooth and glossy pelt.
Then more investigation brought another piece of luck;
He found a long and horny bill belonging to a duck.
He had an odd selection but he needed something more;
This time he sought the feet and legs he hadn’t found before.
At last he found some legs and feet, he’d known that he’d succeed,
Although the legs were far too short for generating speed.
The feet that came with them had webs and it occurred to him
That any creature with these feet would feel the urge to swim.
Despite a few misgivings that he had about this chore
He built the strangest animal, like nothing seen before!
His task was truly ended, and with no fanfare or fuss,
The Maker gave the waiting world - the humble Platypus.