African Penguins

A thin line scarred the bone-tinted shell

Beak so heavy, the bird nearly fell

Dappled with greys, its stained brittle feathers,

Emerging from its warm womb, hardly different from the weather.

Dizzy and weak, it waddles. Barely forming

any thoughts or feelings; it was supposed to remain until morning.

But after all… it was evicted, landlord angry, water swarming,

and yet the landlord is to blame.

Scarce layers of snow, forbidden greens underneath

Now it was time to swim… Now? In the reef?

At the tip of the iceberg, its feet inspect the water

Family and friends still on the other side, croaking and cooing

Head glides under, it seems like it's flying!

But premature wings and webs begin drowning.

Its lungs beg for air as it dives through the ocean

All the commotion for a mountain of motion,

pulling apart its fragile little body,

all for the price of a minuscule commodity?

Tides draw it further and further down; the African Penguin is now drowning.

Drowning? … Dying?