Arion hortensis sleeps
coiled in crevices, anticipating
the sluggish Spring,
his blue-black mantle oiled.
Arion hortensis is dreaming
hermaphrodite dreams,
as her slumbering sack breathes-in
the biting night.
He wakes dew-fresh to damp days;
slides across turned earth,
to new shoots waiting
for him to graze.
She salivates, and fills
her twisted gut, splitting
ground-litter with her siblings.
He solicits. Shivers.
Smears silvery slime on stones
to seduce his sisters.
Arion hortensis is fused
to another, her only escape
is to chew off
her brother.
[UK 2009]
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
This is a very entertaining and cleverly structured masterpiece, Kristina! The oscillations are rapid-fire, not 'sluggish' at all! (lol) . For some reason-and I believe it may be the quality of the work, as well as a similar subject-Marianne Moore comes to mind. :)