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The echidna

whoever feeds me, owns a zoo
for I am a living collage
of the animal world
harmonious with all difference
misunderstood as misfit
save only as a chimera.
I live different versions of life,
all in one lifetime;
The lizard in its pretend realm
lives make believe multiple lives ,
man a vast diversity of existence
through myriad garb does experience
unsure what he is underneath
but I signal with what is inside me,
authentic.
As a monotreme, i produce milk,
hold my puggle in a temporary pouch
and lay soft leathery eggs:
I furrow to burrow and I grow
spines and also fur to pet my parasites,
I swim through the stream
and though slothful I squirrel up a tree
and suck in ants and termites
to the delight of farmers
but I am too docile and shy
to fight back
I just curl into a spiky ball
to dodge any danger
considering such a condition
we can really call being alive
and living.

Poetry by yoonoos peerbocus