1%

 

 

A warm ocean breeze.

A new light in my dark space.

I push out of my egg,

And start my race!
 

I truck through the sand,

tripping over my new legs,
 

When out of nowhere,
We are suddenly the prey!
 

My brothers and sisters,

Being gobbled like grapes!
 

Too many birds hunting us,

Whoa! Is that a snake?!
 

I can hear the waves crashing.
My heart is going crazy.
 

The sand growing cooler.

My vision getting hazy.
 

Feet pounding behind me.

A squawk pierces the air.
 

The rush of water over me.

And I'm finally there!
 

I soar into the ocean.

I've made it! I'm alive!
 

I dodge a lurking tiger shark,

And make my deep dive.
 

Only three of my siblings join me,

And much to our discontent,
 

Out of the four hundred hatchlings,

We are the lucky 1%.

 

-H.C. Herman