Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SNAIL'S PACE, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SNAIL'S PACE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Said the snake to the snail: 'how absurdly you crawl!'
Last Line: "can any one beat me in traversing space?"
Subject(s): Snails; Travel; Journeys; Trips


Said the Snake to the Snail: "How absurdly you crawl!
I scarcely can see you are moving at all."

Said the Hen to the Snake, "With no leg and no wing,
No wonder you travel so slowly, poor thing!"

Said the Fox to the Hen, "You have wings, that is true;
But what are your wings when I get after you?"

Said the Wren to the Fox: "Don't you think you are spry!
But what are your legs to a bird that can fly?"

Said the Hawk to the Wren, "In my masterful flight
Your fluttering pace is a leisurely sight!"

Said the Snail to them all: "This big world is my steed,
And I travel upon it as fast as I need --
Yes, daily upon it, in spite of your smiles,
No less than three-fourths of a million of miles.
You think you excel in your hurrying race:
Can any one beat me in traversing space?"





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net