A CAMEL MET A TURTLE

A camel met a turtle
on the hot Sahara sands.
Said the camel, “It’s a puzzle
as I wander through the lands,
but no matter where I travel,
I am much ashamed to say,
I get baffled and befuddled,
and I quickly lose my way."

Said the turtle, “How I envy you
your long and slender legs
as I slowly trod and toddle
on these short and stubby pegs.
Though I never lose direction
when I travel far and near,
just to go the shortest distances
can take me half a year.”

“Then it’s settled,” said the camel.
“We were meant to be a pair,
and with one upon the other
we can travel anywhere.”
So they nodded to each other,
and they set off down the track
with the turtle at a waddle
and the camel on his back.

--Eric Ode

Copyright © 2005 Eric Ode
All Rights Reserved