Puggle to Echidna

Puggle to Echidna

Egg shelter ruptured
exposing nubble,

putty smooth, pink
vulnerable puggle.

Tiny claws and snout,
hurry up, we’re waiting,

for spines to emerge,
prickly armour-plating.

The spiny covered puggle
is now called an echidna,

a coat so very sharpish
their habits – an enigma.

Naive predators approach,
they haven’t got a clue,

piercing of a probing nose
will change their point of view.

A puggle is a hapless morsel,
tasty dingo meal;

huddling echidna in a ball –
that’s no real meal appeal!

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Photo: Short beaked echidna spiny anteater tachyglossus aculeatus by Allan Whittome (public domain photo)

Note: A puggle is a baby monotreme (echidna or platypus)