BASIL THE BRAVE
One day while walking around my town
I noticed a ducky with a sad little frown.
I stopped to ask him what his dilemma might be
And with tears in his eyes he began to tell me…
“No-one will play with me,” his said with a pout,
“Because I’m so different. I feel so left out.
In fact, in the summer, with the heat and the sun
I fly way up north because I don’t find it fun.”
“Don’t find it fun?” I asked about him.
“But you are a duck, and ducks love to swim!”
He cried even harder and then with a quack,
He said, “But not me!!” and then turned his back.
Oh boy! Now I’ve done it! Now what do I say?
How do I help him to not feel this way?
“Dear duck, I’m so sorry. Please know that is true.
May I ask, what’s your name, and how may I help you?”
Slowly he began with a soft little stutter
“My n-name is B-Basil.” And then with a mutter
He added “but the others all call me a mean other name.
Basil the Coward, like it’s some kind of game.”
“But it’s no game to me” he said and went on
“It hurts my feelings, and makes me wish I were gone.
That’s why I go north in the summertime.
Where the water is frozen, and I can feel fine.”
You see, he then told me that he never knew
What to do in the water – he never learned what to do.
He figured that if he asked someone to teach him
They would just laugh in his face, and say “Oh, just swim.”
So, rather than try to find somebody real
That could help him figure out this whole swimming-deal
Every summer, up north he ended up flying
He thought, “Better to get away, then look silly trying.”
That’s where I stepped in, and began to explain
That hiding and running never helped anyone gain
Instead, what he needed was someone he could trust.
A friendly duck that could swim was a definite must.
So, wing and hand, the two of us walked
Around the small pond, and we laughed and we talked
And soon we encountered a flock by the water
But when they saw Basil, they didn’t want bothered.
Poor Basil, his little heart again broken
The other ducks were mean without a word spoken.
He then looked up at me, tears again in his eyes
This time, though, he winked, and then to my surprise
He walked right over to that gaggling flock
And said, “Alright, fellows, I need to talk-”
But before he could finish, the name-calling began
“Basil the Coward”…but he never ran.
No, Basil remained and then said once again
“I need to talk, ladies and gentlemen
About why I’m a coward, and why I fly away.”
Then he sat and explained why he acted that way.
He told them about how he never did learn
About how to swim, and they looked on with concern.
And he told them about when they called him names
That it hurt his feelings, and to him it’s no game.
“I’m no coward,” he said. “I just never learned how.
But, if you don’t mind, you could all teach me now?”
“What a wonderful thought!” they all said with a cheer.
“To have you swim with us each year after year!”
With surprise in his voice and a smile on his face,
He turned back to me, but I had left my place.
I knew he’d be fine, with his feathery flock
And so with a wave I continued my walk.
Every so often, my walk takes me by
That cute little pond, so I’ll sit and I spy
A duck known as Basil – the Brave and the Proud!
Swimming in water, not flying up in the clouds.
This little duck taught me a wonderful lesson –
When you’re scared to do something, make a confession.
Say right out loud what you really do feel
And you just may be surprised that it’s not a big deal.
Others may have the exact same type of fear
And will help you get thru it by just being near.
So, be sure to talk and let others know
It will help you be strong, and will help you to grow.
