peck, rest
   peck, rest
the whole long day
the shell falls away
ah, freedom


beak open wide
squawking ...
the struggle begins

Posted on NaHaiWriMo's FB page, 8/16/2012.  Prompt was birth.  I wanted the first one to emphasize the hard work involved in birth.  In the case of a bird, it must break out of the shell by its own labour.

I also considered posting the following, but did not.  Maybe some other day:  "baby's first cry / his struggle begins"