All along the black water,

Through the rushes tall,

Ducks are a-dabbling,

Up tails all!


Ducks' tails, drakes' tails,

Yellow feet a-quiver,

Yellow bills all out of sight

Busy in the river!


Slushy green undergrowth

Where the roaches swim,

Here we keep our larder,

Cool and full and dim.


Everyone for what he likes!

We like to be

Heads down, tails up,

Dabbling free!


High in the blue above

Swifts whirl and call,

We are down a-dabbling,

Up tails all!