but an egg

what happens when the egg won't hatch?
does the mother toss it over?
does she sit and strain the life inside?
or just move on to another?

what happens when the siblings hatch
and tweet and beg for food?
what happens to the unborn egg
alone, to bear no fruit

and the bird inside to suffocate
to try and stretch his arms
a silent peep, a gasp of yolk
triggering alarm

how long can this bird own a life
through this senseless opaque shell?
how long before our bird gives up?
perhaps no egg can tell

Oh the egg dreams dreams of air
of soaring hazy clouds
mountaintops and appletrees
and waterfalls abound

he dreams his dreams of island shores
amongst pelicans, fresh fish
and digging talons neath the sand
its all too much to wish

for the egg an egg, a bird a bird
born one then another
but gasping bird inside the egg
how long must he suffer?