Mother Nature's Fathers

Not many animals care much for fatherhood;
Some of them even endanger their young.
But other males strive toward helping their offspring
Survive until infancy’s finally done.

I looked at a number of Internet lists to see
Which dads are often considered the best.
Red fox pas, for instances, will bring the kits food until
Luring them out for a foraging test.

The African wild dogs will go a step further by
Coughing up food so it’s softened enough.
The African bullfrogs will keep all their tadpoles
Inside of their mouths, which has got to be tough.

The emperor penguins stand over the eggs in the
Face of Antarctica’s terrible gales.
Jacanas guard eggs from the ladies who laid them;
It seems that those mother birds go off the rails.

The rhea dads incubate eggs for two months and then
Bring up the hatchlings for two years all told.
Japan’s giant water bugs carry a hundred-plus
Eggs on their backs so they never grow mold.

Brazil’s common marmosets always have twins, whom the
Dads feed and groom and give piggyback rides.
But lions appear on both “best” lists and “worst” lists: They’re
Not so paws-on, but they do guard their prides.

The male golden jackals do lifelong monogamy,
Coughing up food like the wild dogs above.
Grey wolf pas help break the umbilical cords and show
Various signs of their fatherly love.

Some other good dads include poison dart frogs,
Arowanas, gorillas, and seahorses. Still,
I rather suspect that the humans do best
Overall; I love my dad and evermore will.