snails make the most disgusting sound
when they’re crunching underfoot
it’s a wet, fleshy crunch,
light on the crackle component
somewhat exotic and french,
in that regard
still, one wouldn’t want to walk
about in the grass
barefooted after it rains,
when there are scores of snails in the yard
many of them up by the house
right in front of the doors
camouflaged by darwin’s god
better it would be now
if they were day-glo orange
or carried harder shells
or less meat
or moved faster
or weren’t snails
(Originally published in Oxford Magazine, Vol. XVII, 2003. Copyright 2003, 2023 by Tetman Callis.)