Snails

Who, earthbound, slimed
And doomed to slide
Below the black
Of winter’s rimed

And rainsoaked sky,
Suction cups with eyes,
And without a single other knack
To recommend them, still

Carry on the back
Of their sluggish, ugly selves
Ancient
But contemporary shells.

May 24th, 2008, San Francisco
June 9th, 2008, Kailua
April 18th, 2026, Kaiholu