She put the shell against her ear.
Then rising from her knee,
She closed her eyes, and, pressing hard,
She listened for the sea.

I knew she heard the water roar;
She glowed with childish pride.
To hold the ocean in her hand
Was more than she could hide.

She ran across the sand to me;
I listened for awhile
Then tucked the shell within her hand
And nodded with a smile.

I thought that she could learn from me,
But who am I to tell?
She brought the ocean home today;
I only brought a shell.