On Being Turtle

On Being Turtle There are no more turtles on turtle beach They are all dead We can reach them by being turtle Be hard outside Build a shell then look inside Push with inclinations to be soft and old Feel sleep as only turtle’s sleep Look nowhere else Decline to answer any calls Leave home and all behind Become the turtle in his shell Then Move in before the tide goes out 7/22/14 Contest entry - Free Verse Turtle contest