Komodo Island

Turkey sized indigenous birds
on Komodo Island
hollow out a nest with feet;
the female lays her eggs
and with the male replaces the earth
both wander off for food.

With deep primeval urge
a dragon lizard slithers to the hatchery
consumes the incubating eggs
and lays her own,
making a getaway
before the absentees return.

Lizard offspring evetually emerge
and crawl to independent life
leaving empty shells
and confusion in the parent birds.
The lizard doesn't always
have the upper hand,
nature sometimes puts the birds
on 'Red Alert'
to stand on guard.

from Flamingo Pink
page 7