My father wrote this, probably long before I began to walk. He used to read it to me and Katie before bed. I was fond of it and feared that it'd been lost, but found it the other day by accident.

Ursal

by Chicane

Chapter 1
An Idea

Ursal Frog hopped off his lily pad one bright and sunny day
And said, "I'm swimming to that island, about eleven miles away".

His friends got all excited; they were jumping up and down.
"Come back you crazy frog, you'll hurt yourself. You'll sink. You'll drown."

For everybody knows a frog can't swim more than a league.
When last 'ol Morris tried we nearly lost him to fatigue.

"Frogs were made for hopping up and down along the bank.
If anyone had tried to swim, he surely must have sank.

And besides, that island's haunted and it's trouble that you'll get".
"How do we know?" said Ursal. "We have never been there yet".

"Now friends, I know you're worried, and you think I've lost my mind.
But perhaps this swim will elevate and benefit frogkind.

For many generations, now, that island's been a lure.
There's a secret on that island, and I've to know for sure.

And besides I'm in the water now; there's no point in delay".
And he headed for the island, about eleven miles away.

Chapter 2
The Swim

Now Ursal had the technique and he thought he had the knack.
Of swimming for a while and then resting on his back.

But the rests became more frequent and the strain began to show.
As he calculated distance at about nine miles to go.

But Ursal kept on swimming, and his heart felt no despair.
For he had to find the answers on the island way out there.

Then doubt and fear began to show and he began to think.
"For pride and arrogance I'm doomed, and maybe now I'll sink".

For, as they will, is muscles quit, the pain almost a shout.
Six miles to go and Ursal knew that he had just run out.

Chapter 3
Seeking

He lay back in the water, for he couldn't swim a stroke.
And raised his voice in wonder to another voice which spoke.

"Can you help me?" Ursal asked, referring to his task.
"Yes", said the voice. "I have been waiting here for you to ask."

"I'm finished", whispered Ursal, "and I gues I should have known".
"And Now I'm hearing voices when there's none here buy my own".

"You do not dream", the gentle voice to Ursal kindly said.
"I'm in the water right beside you if you'll only turn your head".

Ursal turned in silence, but he couldn't doubt his sight.
There on a golden lily pad and bathed in golden light.

A princely frog sat beautiful and dark and shiny green.
A figure of a frog the like of which he'd never seen.

"Now you know that I can help you." Said the strong and gentle voice.
"But you decide, and it will a matter of your choice.

I cannot swim there for you; it's a work you've taken on.
But join me and we'll be there long before the day is gone.

"For we must swim together for this island to be had".
Then he dove into the water from his golden lily pad.

And off they swam together with such a grace of stroke and style,
That they reached the island-----singing for the last three quarter mile.

Chapter 4
The Island

Ursal's on the island still; has been an age or more.
And since he got there many frogs have come upon the shore.

And he wants to share the answers that the island had for him.
But if you want to know them, then you 'll have to learn to swim.

For they're on an island, closer than our hands and feet, they say.
In the middle of the pond----about eleven miles away.

The End

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