MAMA WENT PEBBLE-SKIPPING

'Pebble-skipping! Pebble-skipping!',
Mama shouted before running
For the pond o'er the plain,
As her mom cried in vain.

On each hop her pebbles made,
She revel'd on ripples spread
On the water round n round
Melting at the grassy bound.

Pebbles made a trailing lurch,
Each tender with her touch,
To lay on bed cool n deep,
To her wonder fore'er sleep!

She'd skipped over a ton
When she bent to find none,
But chips of a canine skull
Round on her desperate trawl.

Her blood began to dry,
She darted with awful cry
Into mom's safe bosoming,
And forgot all pebble-skipping !

                      -- N P Samal