the ravages of time have gnawed
at the stone wall dividing car park and garden
creating small crevasses
                        those now give shelter to small beings
                                 like the snail that is grateful
to hide
                                                it has found its way
                                                        into the depths of the wall
        unnoticed by predators
                             considering it a tasty meal and
                uncrushed by careless hurried feet
that frequently are
oblivious to the path underneath
many a snail has thus passed away
this one however has found
a transient refuge
its only predator now
is time
for soon it must choose
and either come out and
face the perils of life
or starve hiding in the wall

(You will never know if you lay low)


© Jasmine, Bude, July 2010