She picked it up from the seashore. He encouraged her, Flattered her with indulgence To bring back her dying flame. A girl once again, She brought it home In whimsically ebullient innocence! On the polished floor In a faraway city It found it hard to walk With the load of mollusk And made a funny sight! It strained its ears But there was no sound of the sea, No saline smell in the air, Instead the water was sweet and insipid. It went thirsty. The food was alien, It went hungry. Soon they polished the shell And celebrated addition of Another showpiece in their room! The crab had at last Found a new home.