It’s not which came first
that Science News muses on
but the shape of the egg–
ovide-shape tapered to lay,
large enough to hold these
descendants of dinosaurs,
a space able to bear weight
but fragile enough to break
at the peck of a beak–
sturdier than a sphere,
and roomier–
four numbers
capture its ratio of length
to breadth: quarter-diameter,
lengthwise slant. Helpful
for architects and egg carton
makers, says the press release.
But reading it we see
the answer to that old riddle,
which came first, the chicken
or the egg? The egg came
first, shelter, food, and
warmth: protection strong
enough to strive against
for the freedom of the nest.
