THE PENGUIN'S REPENTANCE
O God in whom we live and are,
Queen of ocean, sun and star,
Hear this humble prayerful cry,
From birds who walk instead of fly.
Oh, of course, it may seem
bold
To stand for months out in
the cold,
Or swim at speeds beyond
compare
Like we were meant to do
in air.
But wingless?!!! Flippers is our fate,
Just four feet tall, with waddling gait,
Odd flightless birds who roam and stroll
Around that place called the South Pole.
Yet, God, one shame we never
face,
Our secret source of deep
disgrace,
The fact that penguins as
a whole
Have never lived at the North
Pole.
All scientists have wondered why.
It's time to give a frank reply.
We're lazy! That's
the simple fact!
It's tough to swim UP on
the map,
So we stay south, a cozy
place,
Choosing the South's more
easy pace.
Dear God, forgive our apathy,
And bless this frank apology
For living here where we prefer:
Down South, the livin's easier.
from the forthcoming book Prayers of 100 Animals A to Z, by William Cleary
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