The other day,
our tortoise escaped;
we’d turned our backs
for no less than two minutes;
and that was when he saw his chance.
Through the open gate –
thank you, Postie –
and off up the road;
he led us a merry dance;
who’d have knowd
that a tortoise could reach
such velocity.
We think he was off to the beach, again ;
such precocity,
without a word of goodbye,
or a wave of farewell
(well,he might have waved,
it’s difficult to tell),
and he was gone,
up yon pavement,
(crossing at the crossing)
grabbing a leafy snack
at the passing allotment;
and, with no looking back,
he went off to the sands of the shore,
and the salt of the sea.
We couldn’t catch him;
but, he always comes home
in time for tea.
Graeme Sandford 