Scared static on a sliced leaf the snail’s
back-borne spiral cog spluttered, started

sudden, slid to
encrusted wood,
body a full mouth
kissing the ground
scaled anticlockwise
towards leaf-lit tops,
other shells above
beset in grooves
like pale pearls.

I grip pliers. Careless ape; I could cut its opal fruit with ease.
Still. We gaze upward, sweetened mouths fated forever open.