A Ceramic Hemisphere

A smooth rounded dome caught my eye under the base of the stone birdbath. I halted in a defensive stance, then executed three measured sideways strides. It was a pale glazed ceramic shard from a broken flowerpot saucer, concave and thick. I rapped the curved exterior with my right pincer. A sharp, clear ping rang out against the gravel. Solid resistance. I dug my walking legs into the damp grit, slipped both pincers beneath the curved edge, and levered upward. The shard shifted with a rough scrape, propping itself against a flat slate stone to create an arched bunker. Adequate overhead protection secured.