WHEN A SMALL GIRL I COLLECTED
COLORFUL AND FUN SHAPED ROCKS
I CARRIED THEM HOME IN POCKETS
THEN HID THEM AWAY IN SOCKS


ONE DAY MAMA YELLED AT ME LOUD
OVER HER OLD WASHERS DIN
ALL OF MY PRETTY ROCKS CLATTERED
IN THE WASH SHE HAD TOSSED THEM


SHE HAD CLEANED UP MY CLOTHES' CLOSET
GATHERING UP DIRTY SOCKS
SHE DIDN'T KNOW I HAD HIDDEN
MY CACHE OF COLORFUL ROCKS


WELL, THAT OLD RINGER WASHER SPUN
MY SOCKS AND ROCKS ALL AROUND
MAKING SUCH A RACKET THEY DID
SHE THREW THEM OUT ON THE GROUND


I SNUCK AROUND MUCH LATER YES
PICKING UP MY SPECIAL ROCKS
BUT I HID THEM UNDER MY BED
IN BOXES WITH QUITE GOOD LOCKS


NEVER AGAIN DID I PUT ROCKS
IN SOCKS OR SOME OTHER CLOTHES
BUT YOU KNOW MY SAVED DEAD CRAWDADS
COULD BE SMELLED BY MAMA'S NOSE