A LITTLE BOY TURTLE NAMED REEFER
WHILE WALKING IN THE WOODS EARLY LAST MAY,
MET THE CUTEST LITTLE GIRL TURTLE
COME FRIDAY HE ASKED TO HAVE A DATE WITH FAYE.

THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK ON A MONDAY
AND AS FAST AS A TURTLE CAN GO,
FRIDAY SEEMED A LONG WAYS AWAY
'CAUSE A TURTLE TRAVELS VERY SLOW !

TUESDAY MORNING REEFER GOT STARTED
AS SOON AS IT BECAME LIGHT,
HE TOOK OFF DOWN THE WINDING DUSTY PATH
THE SUN WAS SOON SHINING VERY BRIGHT.

SO REEFER CRAWLED AND HE CRAWLED
TAKING TIME TO STOP AND REST,
HE PICKED SOME PINK WILD FLOWERS
HOPED FAYE LIKED THESE THE BEST.

BUT BY WEDNESDAY IT WAS PLAIN TO SEE
REEFER HAD BETTER SPEED UP - OR AT LEAST TRY,
THE FLOWERS WERE BEGINNING TO WILT
HE WAS AFRAID THEY MIGHT DIE.

THE WEEK SLOWLY DRAGGED ON
LITTLE FEET ON THE HOT ROAD BEGAN TO BAKE,
BUT EVERY DAY THAT WENT BY
WAS ONE LESS DAY IT WAS GOING TO TAKE.

MOST EVERY NIGHT ON HIS JOURNEY
HE SLEPT UNDER A CORN SHOCK,
IT SLOWED HIM IF HE WENT AT NIGHT
HE COULDN'T SEE TO GET AROUND A HUGE ROCK.

THURSDAY IT BEGAN TO RAIN
THERE WAS MUD ALL OVER THE FOREST FLOOR,
REEFER CRAWLED INTO HIS SHELL
THE CLOUDS CONTINUED TO DUMP MORE.

WHEN FRIDAY ARRIVED SUNNY AND CLEAR
REEFER HAD CRAWLED ABOUT THREE-FOURTH OF A MILE,
HE WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE HIS DATE
THEY BOTH BEGAN TO WEAR A BIG SMILE.

THEY NIBBLED SOME TENDER LETTUCE
UNDER A ROTTED LOG OTHER 'GOODIES' THEY DID SEEK,
HAD A WONDERFUL TIME SPENT TOGETHER
DID SOME SWIMMING IN THE WATER OF A COOL CREEK.

THEY DECIDED TO MEET AGAIN
MAYBE IN A WEEK OR TWO,
REEFER KNEW IT HAD BETTER BE THAT LONG
HE HAD A LOT OF TRAVELING AHEAD OF HIM TO DO.

I NEVER SAW REEFER AGAIN
SINCE HE DOESN'T MOVE VERY FAST,
HE NEVER CRAWLS IN THE SAME DIRECTION
I HAVE OFTEN WONDERED IF HIS ROMANCE DID LAST.

IF I WAS A TURTLE GOING COURTING
THAT SEEMED A LONG WAYS TO ME TO GO,
I'D FIND SOMEONE MUCH CLOSER TO HOME
IF I HAD TO MOVE ALONG SO VERY SLOW.


Written...........August 22, 2008
I have helped several turtles crossing a highway and they seem to just
stop, taking their time. They amber across the back yard at a very slow
pace, in no particular hurry. Taking their little shells with them, they
can stop to rest, then travel on. The idea to write a poem, just came to
me and I put the verses on paper. They are an interesting animal to watch.


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