THE JOURNEY OF THE LONE SNAIL
(Part five)

The snail emerged from the forest’s deep embrace,
Into the vastness of the savanna’s space.
Where the grasses swayed in the warm, dry air,
And the horizon stretched out, endlessly fair.

As it ventured forth, slow but sure,
It came upon a burrow, tidy and pure.
An African spotted grass rat worked with care,
Stuffing its home with grasses rare.

The snail, curious as it had always been,
Asked the rat with a thoughtful grin,
"Why do you fill your house with these dry, dead plants?
You eat the grass only when it’s green, I can't see the chance.

Isn't it useless to labor this way,
Packing hay into your home, day by day?"
The rat paused, then with a knowing glance,
Explained its reason, its future plans.

"It’s true," said the rat, "I eat the grass when green,
But there’s more to life than what is seen.
The season of love is drawing near,
When each of us finds a mate to hold dear.

I must prepare, for when that time comes,
To make a cozy nest, where love hums.
A warm, soft bed for my mate and me,
Where we’ll nurture our young, in harmony.

No one wants a partner who does not provide,
Who has no nest, no place to hide.
In the savanna, where the winds can bite,
A warm home is a source of delight.

So I labor now, to build a space,
Where my family will thrive, with love and grace.
It’s not just about food, but comfort too,
For a strong, safe home is a gift that’s true."

The snail, with newfound wisdom in its shell,
Realized the depth of what the rat did tell.
For life’s not just about the needs of the day,
But preparing for tomorrow, in every way.

It saw the beauty in the rat’s foresight,
In building a future, cozy and bright.
And though the snail's own journey was slow,
It knew that wisdom, like love, must grow.

With a nod of respect, the snail moved on,
Through the savanna, in the light of dawn.
Carrying with it, a lesson learned,
Of how love and labor are both earned.

The world is vast, and each must strive,
To create a space where dreams can thrive.
For in every creature, great or small,
There’s a wisdom that binds us all.

And as the snail journeyed on its way,
It felt a little wiser with each passing day.
For the lessons of the forest, the grass, and the stream,
Had taught it that life is more than it may seem.

To be continued.