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The view across the road was clear: What flowers and ferns adorned the edge And lush and leafy was the verge By evening sun made still more fair. Our snail was captive to that sight. The lure of greener, fresher grass Its magic spell it held him much Enticed he was to go across. And great it was the pull and thrall. What he was ready now to do: Throw all his caution to the wind, And disregard the dangers of the road. His kin they tried to hold him back The wise they said: Stay where you are But youthful ardour won the day Our snail would not give up his plan. The crossing had to be at night For fear of drying out So when one day the sun was down The moment now was right. He put out feelers, sniffed the air And nudged his way onto the road And drawing breath he started then To shift and slide on trailing slime. The crossing was no easy thing He had to keep a watchful eye Look out for birds which sweep and snatch And quickly coil back in his shell. Then distant laughter was a sign And rumbling noise a portent was: He feared the crunch of human steps And wagons with great rolling wheels. At last he reached the other side And weary fell into the grass He slept for hours and hours on end And wakened then to view the scene. A little strange this side from near It didn't seem so green. No matter now, he did his best And shaped his life anew. But for some reason on that side The grass began to dry The wind it withered all the flowers And dust spread everywhere. His heart it sank, his spirits dropped: This side’s no paradise He found his thoughts returned to home And those he'd left behind. And looking back to where he left He saw the morning sun Catch all the drops of early dew Which twinkled on fresh grass.
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