A hard shield

To protect from the outside

Yet so gullible

And easy to fool

Sometimes others

Try to catch them as prey

But no matter how hard they try

Their shell pushes them away

Engraved with stories, etches of time

Their shell is decorated and worth a thousand dimes

They hide inside when danger is near

But really, are not something others fear

Protected and safe

Inside their home

Much awaits

On their journey long

They proved to themselves

On the very first day

They deserve to be protected

And protected they stay