I received a phone call today
from a lady who was wanting to give away
her turtle that had been her friend
for many long years until in the end
that although much love he received
it was not fair she believed
that the only thing in his life
was a large glass tank and without a mate
or even another turtle to spend time
which would have made life much more sublime
instead just him in his lonely life
a perfect home for him with no strife
a peaceful life to be sure
but lonely with no company to endure
and for twelve and a half years he lived in his tank
when his caregiver called looking for a place
that he could spend the rest of his days
as nature intended in natural ways
in a pond that he could swim and be free
with other turtles for company
she brought him over to take a look
as I showed her around like an open book
and even though it would be the very last game
that she and Herbert for that was his name
would spend together for in his new life
Herbert could go and search for a wife
she kissed his head and said so long
and placed him on the bank of the pond
where he slipped into the water and was gone
but before he disappeared away
he turned and looked as if to say
thank you for the years that you cared
and of the life that together we shared
then slipped below the surface of the pond
to explore his new home and he was gone
I’m sure that Herbert and I will become friends
although it has to be said that in the end
I will not see Herbert an awful lot
as with the others will be hard to spot
unless he may bask in the sun
on the bank of the pond where this new life begun
and if Herbert was able to speak
I’m sure his thanks to Alisa would be deep
especially as she gave up her pet
for the wild life of a turtle he will now get.

Written 6/11/2019