Alone

We’ve landed on this strange land

It seems abandoned, lonely

I see no others, wife

No females, males, or young

We are all alone, without companions

It seems safe, though quite barren and bleak

No vegetation to hide us from the heat

Yet here, there is no need to be wary

of being hunted by predators

Our young can live in relative peace

We can raise our offspring safely

It feels so glum and cold here, husband

This desolate terrain offers no beauty,

I see no flowers to smell,

no structures to examine

No others to participate and engage with

Our young family may not prosper

without interaction with other fowl

It may not be responsible to

segregate our brood from life’s experienced realities

There are no other chicks here, mom and dad

No others like us to amuse ourselves with

The rocks are cold and lifeless

The water is all around us, can be fun

but there’s nowhere to play hide and seek

We may get bored without some friends

My sibling is great for amusement

but I don’t see any others with whom will we mate

We will need a family of our own some day

It is agreed

This is not a place for us to exist

We need others to socialize

and learn from, to grow stronger and wiser

We can’t remain alone without interacting

with other species and even our own

Seclusion will only make us weaker

making our young more vulnerable

Experience is needed in how to avoid danger,

how to find and woo a mate and leave a legacy

Relationships are crucial

in the survival of our kind

We must and will seek another place

more appropriate for rearing

Dangers will exist

and struggles will be a daily chore,

but it’s all needed to teach our descendants

survival skills that are imperative

We will take our rest on this deserted rock

then make our way to greener lands,

where our flock may prosper and grow

in strength and number

Joining and finding community

is needed to flourish and be whole

This cold and bitter expanse

that lacks verdancy and creature,

is peaceful, but isolated, forsaken,

devoid of vibrant life.

We cannot survive abandoned

and withdrawn from life