Cecil the tortoise, I knew him quite well

Told me one day, Im removing my shell,

I find my shell to be awfully constrictive
And heavy and awkward and rather restrictive.

And though some old folk may find it quite rude

Im determined to spend my remaining days nude
Im shedding my shell! For I need to be free!
Im a naturist tortoise and Ive got to be me!

He unzipped his shell and came clambering out

And within twenty minutes was streaking about
His nudeness exposed to the bright summer sun
He laughed and he sang and had nude tortoise fun.

A horse was affronted and cried, Look at that!

Cecil startled a squirrel, he embarrassed a cat!
With nudity folks are not often acquainted
An old lady goggled; a nun promptly fainted

And though this display of nude impropriety

Scandalised sections of tortoise society
He declared very loudly that he just didnt care
And fully intended to stay fully bare

But the sun it must fade and summers dont last

And soon the dark nights were drawing in fast
The excitement wore thin and Cecil said simply
And tired and Im cold and a little goose-pimply

On searching the spot where he old shell lay

He discovered the shell had been taken away!
A wandering hermit crab made it his own
Had laid carpet, hung pictures and called it his home

The hermit crab said, It aint yours its mine!

You gave that shell up, so to me its no crime!
Cecil found that possession is nine-tenths of the law
(Something he wished hed considered before)

To keep the poor chap from starting to freeze

I found something warm, as hed started to sneeze
Its not stylish or fashionable, you must understand
It was simply the first thing to come to my hand
So Cecils now wearing a fetching tea-cosy
And his immediate future is looking more rosy
Thats the end of my tale and Id think youd do well
To consider the benefit of keeping ones shell.