THE TRAVELING LITTLE TURTLE
by John T. Baker
A little turtle planned a trip
Across the yard one day;
He packed a lunch and right at dawn
Set out upon his way.

By noon he'd reached the halfway point
And paused to rest and eat,
Pulled out his lunch, then suddenly
Heard something near his feet.

He looked and saw with instant fright
A pack of robber snails,
Of which he'd heard his mother tell
Such dreadful gruesome tales.

The little turtle turned to flee,
The hungry snails pursued;
For hours they tracked him cross the lawn,
Intent upon his food.

As darkness fell he neared his house
But felt the snails attack;
They seized his lunch, then toilsomely
They turned him on his back.

His mother found him late that night
Outside the kitchen door;
She picked him up and brushed him off;
His father loudly swore

And phoned the sheriff, who came out
To look into the crime;
"I'll nab those rascals even if
It calls for overtime.

"I'll need a full description, lad;
How many in the bunch?
Where were you when they first attacked?
Just what was in your lunch?"

The little turtle thought and thought
About the day just past;
"I'd like to help you, Sheriff, but . . .
It happened all so fast!"