I'M HERE TO SAY, "'TWAS A LOVELY DAY

THAT A SPECIAL GUEST CAME A-WALKIN'!

IN THE GENTLE BREEZE, 'NEATH THE SWAYING PALM TREES

HE SEEMED MUCH IN THE MOOD FOR TALKIN'!

WE WERE RELAXING IN THE SUN, WITH THE DAY'S WORK DONE,

ENJOYING A TROPICAL DRINK.

NO NEED TO HURRY, NO NEED TO WORRY...

AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT WE DID THINK.

THEN WE HEARD A SOUND AND LOOKED AROUND;

WAS SOMEONE ON OUR DOOR A-KNOCKIN'?

I GOT UP FROM MY CHAIR, BUT NO ONE WAS THERE...

SO, I SAT DOWN AND WENT BACK TO MY 'ROCKIN'.

ANOTHER KNOCK CAME, DRIVING US QUITE INSANE...

FOR NO ONE AT THE DOOR COULD BE SEEN.

I AGAIN GOT TO MY FEET, THIS PERSON TO MEET

AND THIS TIME, LET OUT A LITTLE SCREAM!

FOR I HAD LOOKED ALL AROUND AND FINALLY LOOKED DOWN

AND THERE, AWAITING ADMISSION

WAS A BEAST OF SOME KIND (AT LEAST TO MY MIND)

POLITELY WAITING (AS IS THE HUMAN TRADITION).

HE CARRIED ON HIS BACK A KIND OF SHACK...

HE WAS NO MORE THAN A FEW INCHES TALL.

HIS NECK AND HIS HEAD FILLED ME WITH DREAD

WHEN THEY DISAPPEARED INSIDE THE SHACK'S WALL!

WE INVITED HIM IN, BUT OUR CHANCES WERE SLIM

OF HIS STAYING TO VISIT AWHILE.

HE SEEMED NERVOUS OF US - NOT SURE HE COULD TRUST,

BUT HE CARRIED HIMSELF WITH GREAT STYLE!

HE WAS A TIMID ONE - OH, WE HAD SO MUCH FUN

SNAPPING HIS PICTURE AND GRINNING!

HE DIDN'T STAY LONG, JUST MOVED RIGHT ON,

INTENT ON HIS NEW JOURNEY BEGINNING!

AND SO WITH A SIGH, WE WAVED HIM GOODBYE

AND WISHED HIM ALL THAT WAS GOOD.

A TURTLE WAS HE, AND SO YOU CAN SEE

WE'D HAVE KEPT HIM IF WE COULD!