Movie Monsters

Adorned with shells 
Beautiful enough
to be on a necklace.
Faces and bodies
Ugly enough to be
"Movie monsters."

Shells that dot the lawn with
Tan, pink, browns, black and stripes
Desperately try to protect the delicate
"Movie monsters" within from
Mother and human nature.
I carry them off to a
Temporary safety 
Whenever I can.

Stuck to my garage door 
Window as if to peak in.
Watching us instead of
The other way around.
On my garage door
As if to be waiting
For the moment that 
It is opened to jump in.

Hugging my house
And shyly sharing the world
With the rest of us.
Out after a summer rain
Dining on lawn salad.

Farmed for tasty appetizers on 
Somebody's dinner plate.
Plucked from shells by hungry birds.
Smashed by a shoe, lawn mower, 
car tire, garage door...

It's never a good ending
For the snails.
Empty unbroken shells are
Cherished in my collection.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2012

Poem

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Suzadail Jr. Avatar
May 7, 2013 at 6:22 PM
There is beauty in all of nature. I guess we all should take time to smell the roses and appreciate the snails.
A   Avatar
February 14, 2013 at 8:53 PM
Gail , Stopping by with sincere thanks for your kind comments. It is appreciated more than words or can say... Wishing you the best Valentine's Day YET! Always & Forever :-) LINDA .
Makama Avatar
June 11, 2012 at 4:40 AM
This is great... I really enjoyed it. Nice to get such a blessing in such a beautiful monday afternoon.
Van Brunt Avatar
March 7, 2012 at 12:31 AM
Gail, this poem has so much in it. Each stanza is a new window on these shy and fragile creatures. Thank you for bringing awareness of them to me. You portray the rarity of a shell that survives unbroken. You invite us to see them, to slow down with them, to delight in them.
Andresen Avatar
February 27, 2012 at 4:09 AM
Very well written Gail,good work. - oxox Anne-Lise
Anish Avatar
February 26, 2012 at 9:30 AM
I like shells too. Important work! Peace & blessings Matthew Anish
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