Charlotte's Shells - Poem by Mark Butkus

Was looking for some change
To do the laundry on 8th Street
When I came across Charlotte’s shells

She had always wanted to
Come to the ocean with me
But as she never could come
I did what I thought
Was the next best thing

I picked up a shell
One for every trip
One for every beach
That Charlotte could not
Share with me

There are nine Charlotte shells
For the next time that we meet
If we never do
I’ll always have
Charlotte’s shells