This is the next creature in my Lumen Songs project (after Crow, Wolf and Whale) of lumen prints and poems, partly inspired by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris’ book The Lost Words.

Solitary, slow and sombre,

all hail the snail,

Nautilus of the lettuce leaves,

king of the cabbage thieves.

Aimless with determination,

Idle in his undulation.

Long, long may you rule.