Happy Visit, Snails, Poem

Tuesday. 7th August

Pretty sore this morning, but I think it’s because I slept so late. I'm like the "Tin Man', I need an oil can. Kay arrived with the boys and their wee cousin, Alexander, who is twenty one months. What a happy wee soul and so loving. Every time we hummed a tune, he started dancing and he takes delight in everything. Kay went for my prescription and he was quite happy to stay with me. We wandered round the garden so that Douglas and Robert collected petals to take home to press. Of course he wanted to join in too.

After they were away, found three snails near my two biggest hostas, which are nearly eaten away.Have tried eradicating them with beer and slug pellets, but nothing seems to work. Hate actually killing any creature, so put them in compost bin. They’ll maybe chomp away in there for a wee while. On the other hand they may get bigger and bigger, escape and eat all my plants! I’m reminded of this poem.

For a Five-Year-Old

A snail is climbing up the window-sill
into your room, after a night of rain.
You call me in to see, and I explain
that it would be unkind to leave it there:
it might crawl to the floor; we must take care
that no one squashes it. You understand,
and carry it outside, with careful hand,
to eat a daffodil.

I see, then, that a kind of faith prevails:
your gentleness is moulded still by words
from me, who have trapped mice and shot wild birds,
from me, who drowned your kittens, who betrayed
your closest relatives, and who purveyed
the harshest kind of truth to many another.
But that is how things are: I am your mother,
And we are kind to snails.

Fleur Adcock, Poems 1960-2000