The Saddest Penguin
Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 10:46 pm
The Saddest Penguin
I stood by the shore with a penguin whose feet
Were dusty and rusty and not very neat.
Her crest was unkempt. Her feathers were torn.
Her demeanour was mean and her face looked forlorn.
What is the problem? I asked this poor bird.
She shook her head sadly, but answered no word.
Is the surf too ferocious? The water too chill?
Has a sliver of seaweed got stuck in your bill?
Is your belly too empty? Your baby too thin?
Has the ice rubbed the skin off the tip of your chin?
Are the rainclouds too black? Are the icebergs too blue?
What in the world is bedevilling you?
Are the killer whales circling to flick off your pelt?
Are you spooked by the rate of the polar ice melt?
Are leopard seals wrecking your dreams through the night?
Are the pilchards too salty? There's something not right!
Are the tides too extreme? Is the moon far too full?
Are you somewhat alarmed by the strength of its pull?
Has your man been unfaithful and found a new mate?
Has summer come early? Or is it too late?
I kept firing questions, but to my surprise,
She lifted her head and gazed into my eyes.
“My life’s lost its meaning.” (Her simple reply.)
“Today I discovered I know how to fly.”
© Stephen Whiteside 29.05.2013
I stood by the shore with a penguin whose feet
Were dusty and rusty and not very neat.
Her crest was unkempt. Her feathers were torn.
Her demeanour was mean and her face looked forlorn.
What is the problem? I asked this poor bird.
She shook her head sadly, but answered no word.
Is the surf too ferocious? The water too chill?
Has a sliver of seaweed got stuck in your bill?
Is your belly too empty? Your baby too thin?
Has the ice rubbed the skin off the tip of your chin?
Are the rainclouds too black? Are the icebergs too blue?
What in the world is bedevilling you?
Are the killer whales circling to flick off your pelt?
Are you spooked by the rate of the polar ice melt?
Are leopard seals wrecking your dreams through the night?
Are the pilchards too salty? There's something not right!
Are the tides too extreme? Is the moon far too full?
Are you somewhat alarmed by the strength of its pull?
Has your man been unfaithful and found a new mate?
Has summer come early? Or is it too late?
I kept firing questions, but to my surprise,
She lifted her head and gazed into my eyes.
“My life’s lost its meaning.” (Her simple reply.)
“Today I discovered I know how to fly.”
© Stephen Whiteside 29.05.2013
