A Hard-Shell Horse

Sturdy John and little May,
On the sandy beach at play,
Spend a sunny summer day
Fearless John has caught a steed.
And an odd one ‘tis, indeed,
With its ten good legs for speed!

Harnessed to a little cart
By a deal of boyish art,
Off It goes with sudden start;
     Sideway sprawling, backward crawling,
     Geeing, hawing, nipping, clawing,
     Now upsetting, and now getting
All its ten legs badly tangled
In the harness, this new-fangled,
     Shell-back horse makes lively fun
For its trainers; but we guess
For itself ‘tis something less.
     So thinks little May, for one.

Laughing till her eyes are wet,
She remembers mercy yet.
     “Now,” she says, “John we’ll unharness 
Crabbie. There’s no horse so fine!
     In this rocky pool his barn is.
Where on good sea-kale to dine
With a bowl of ocean brine,
     Let him eat and drink and play
With he wee ones!”

                              And away,
Eyes aslant to left and right,
Sidelong, headlong, out of sight
     Claw-foot tumbles, glad as they!