The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo
Long ago the proud Kangaroo had four short legs, and he begged the gods to make him different by five o’clock. Big God Nqong sent Yellow-Dog Dingo to chase him all day across Australia, until he stood up and hopped on long, strong hind legs.
Scene 1: Grey and Woolly
The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo. Not always was the Kangaroo as now we do behold him. He had four short legs. He was grey and he was woolly, and his pride was inordinate: he danced on a rock in the middle of Australia. At six before breakfast, he went to the Little God Nqa, and said: “Make me different from all other animals by five this afternoon!” Up jumped Nqa from his seat on the sandflat and shouted: “Go away!”
Scene 2: Yes, I Will!
At eight after breakfast, he went to the Middle God Nquing. Up jumped Nquing from his burrow and shouted: “Go away!” At ten before dinner-time, he went to the Big God Nqong, and said: “Make me different from all other animals; make me popular and wonderfully run after by five this afternoon!” Up jumped Nqong from his bath in the salt-pan and shouted: “Yes, I will!”
Scene 3: Yellow-Dog Dingo
Nqong called Dingo—Yellow-Dog Dingo—always hungry, dusty in the sunshine, and said: “Dingo! Wake up, Dingo! Do you see that gentleman dancing? He wants to be run after. Dingo, make him SO!” Up jumped Dingo, Yellow-Dog Dingo, and said: “What, that cat-rabbit?” Off ran Dingo—Yellow-Dog Dingo—always hungry, grinning like a coal-scuttle—ran after Kangaroo. Off went the proud Kangaroo on his four little legs like a bunny.
Scene 4: He Had To!
He ran through the desert; he ran through the mountains; he ran through the salt-pans; he ran till his front legs ached. He had to! Still ran Dingo—Yellow-Dog Dingo—always hungry, grinning like a rat-trap, never getting nearer, never getting farther. He ran through the ti-trees; he ran through the long grass; he ran till his hind legs ached. He had to!
Scene 5: Hop!
Then they came to the Wollgong River, and there wasn’t any bridge. So Kangaroo stood on his legs and hopped. He had to! First he hopped one yard; then three yards; then five yards; his legs growing stronger; his legs growing longer. He hopped like a cricket; like a pea in a saucepan; or a new rubber ball on a nursery floor. He tucked up his front legs, and stuck out his tail for a balance-weight behind him. Still ran Dingo—Tired-Dog Dingo—hungrier and hungrier.
Scene 6: Five O’Clock
Then came Nqong, and said: “It’s five o’clock.” Down sat Dingo—Poor Dog Dingo—and hung out his tongue and howled. Down sat Kangaroo—Old Man Kangaroo—and stuck out his tail like a milking-stool, and said: “Thank goodness that’s finished! He’s altered my shape so I’ll never get it back!” Then said Nqong, who is always a gentleman: “Didn’t you ask me to make you different? And now it is five o’clock.” So they were left in the middle of Australia, and each said: “That’s your fault!” Be careful what you wish for, O Beloved of mine!
Moral: Be careful what you wish for: you may get it in a way you never expected.
Questions about The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo
How many legs did the Kangaroo run on at the very beginning?
Four short legs.
Which god said “Yes, I will!”?
Big God Nqong, from his bath in the salt-pan.
Who ran after the Kangaroo all day?
Yellow-Dog Dingo.
What did the Kangaroo come to, where there wasn’t any bridge?
The Wollgong River.
What did the Kangaroo stick out behind him like a milking-stool?
His tail.
More stories to read aloud
- How the Camel Got His Hump — In the beginning of the world, a lazy Camel answers the Horse, the Dog and the Ox with nothing but “Humph!”, so they must do his work as well.
- How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin — A rude Rhinoceros upsets the Parsee's stove and eats his cake.
- How the Whale Got His Throat — A hungry Whale who has eaten every fish in the sea swallows a shipwrecked Mariner, his raft, his suspenders and his jack-knife.