THE JOURNEY OF THE LONE SNAIL
(Part Seven)

The snail, undeterred by the vulture's tale,
Moved on through the land, steadfast and frail.
Soon it came upon a neem tree tall,
Where a grumpy spider was spinning its sprawl.

The web stretched wide, a silken net,
To catch the flies that would soon forget.
The snail, with a humble voice, did greet,
And asked the spider for wisdom to meet.

The spider paused, its legs at rest,
And shared a thought it held as best.
"There’s one advice I’ll give to you,
Something I’ve learned and know is true.

Never depend on others for your daily bread,
For dependency breeds parasites," it said.
"My thread, you see, comes from within,
I make it alone, with no kith or kin.

I’ve been independent since my birth,
Struggling alone, for all I’m worth.
I catch my food, and I share with none,
And thus, I live free, under the sun.

No parasites live in my home, you see,
For I rely on nothing but me.
The world’s troubles stem from dependency’s chain,
Adults who cannot live alone bear the strain."

The snail, wise and thoughtful, asked then,
"But what of the insects you trap in your den?
Is that not dependency, a need for their life?
Can the world exist without mutual strife?"

The spider, with a knowing glint, replied,
"I don’t depend on them, it’s a hunt, not a ride.
If they don’t exist, I’d find another way,
For in this world, all creatures must prey.

Life is a circle, where we hunt and are hunted,
But dependency, that’s where souls are stunted.
I speak not of symbiosis, where both sides gain,
But of parasites, where one only feels the strain.

In a parasitic bond, one thrives, one bleeds,
It’s a relationship born of selfish needs.
So I spin my web, and live alone,
With no debts to others, I’ve fully grown."

The snail, thoughtful, nodded slow,
"Oh grumpy spider, now I know.
Your words give me much to weigh,
As I continue on my way.

But isn’t it strange, the irony here,
That you depend on the neem tree near?
You build your web upon its limb,
Yet despise dependency in your hymn."

The spider paused, its legs stretched wide,
"Perhaps there’s truth in what you chide.
But the tree gains nothing from me,
I take nothing from it, it’s just where I be.

Yet your words are fair, they hold a key,
To the deeper truth in dependency.
So go on, snail, with wisdom earned,
For life is a web, and we’ve all learned."

The snail, with thoughts both light and dark,
Moved on, carrying the spider’s mark.
For the world is full of webs and ties,
Of ironies and truths in disguise.

To be continued.