shell

she trudged along

slowly

stopping to take in the

sight and sounds

the smell of the earth

after the rain

she examined the world

unseen

unheard

unthought of

she saw lovers

kissing in the park

holding hands

in the dark

and as she carried

the weight of the world

on her back

the little turtle

crawled into her shell and

wept bitterly

for she was

alone