No slouch, this Slug climbs the smooth wall to the top
Of a ripe tomato on a glistening line of remarkable slime
Like liquid crystal, adhesive and lubricating,
Breathing through a blowhole on his side, hermaphroditic,
Stretching two retractable tentacles to see and smell,
Hiding a jaw with rasping microscopic teeth to pierce the skin
And slurp this sweeter juice of his salad diet … but, Slug,
A warning! your soft sans-shell mucus body is a target …
A favorite delicacy of mammals and birds;
So slide down to safety on your magic slime to home of refuse
Of dead leaves and plants to scavenge your ecological role,
To break down organic matter and recycle nutrients,
To play a part of the natural balance. But BEWARE …
The human with one sprinkle of salt that can dissolve you.
Annemarie Berukoff
HelpfulMindstreamforChanges.com
