Sunday, 26 January 2025

13. Magdalena Ball - Glass Snails - Inviting Sophia Wilson into the garden

Glass snails

i.


Soon we will all learn to live with less

whorls, shell, house, car. 


This might have occurred over 

generations, a slow transition


natural selection, natural replacement

homo erectus to homo sapiens


homo sapiens to intelligentia artificialis

strepsodiscus to oxychilidae. 


Given the situation we find 

ourselves in, it’s faster


a problem we can’t solve, only mitigate. 

retraction, reduction, inequities


trying to slow the pace, leaving

the slightest silver trail.


ii. 


The mollusc is a calcium barometer. 

Holds the weight of our world


in pockets, glorious colours flashing 

over a transparent body.


Palm fronds, leaf litter, fungi, easy 

to crush, eyes on the future.


We didn’t know, didn’t see

what was happening


tragedy of the horizon, perhaps

we can bring them back


frankensnails, shells glued 

kintsugi-style.

What mad doctor will bring us back? 

Nothing, no-thing, creature or stone


exists in isolation. The link that makes 

the difference is not so easy to spot.


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