The Humble Snail Poem by Christopher Tye

The Humble Snail

You are always overlooked,
You are disliked by gardeners,
You are just seen as food by the birds.
Yet if we took time to look at your ilk, what would we see?

Would we see all your different species,
Would we see the marvel of nature that you are,
Would we see your true beauty hidden beneath your slime,
Would we see you in all the glory that you possess,
Would we see the complexity of your shell,
Would we realise how diverse a clan you are.

For you are one of nature's greatest creations,
From the common garden snail
To the sea snails lurking at the depths of the oceans,
To the Giant African Snail, who's size alone should impress,
To the snails of the chalk downlands,
Who's shells look like humbugs & butter mints.

By Christopher Tye