The Snail in a Hurry

A little snail once wished to race,
Fast, so fast, to win the chase.
”I’m far too slow, oh what a shame,
I want to run just like the same!”

He pushes hard against his shell,
He slides, he rolls — but can’t quite tell.
It makes no difference, he creeps so slow,
Barely further than a week ago.

A ladybug flies down to say:
“Why rush along in such a way?
Look at the path you’ve traveled through,
The leaves, the flowers you passed and knew!”

The snail stops still, and thinks a while,
Then slowly spreads a happy smile.
”Slow and steady, I see it all!”
And on he goes, content and small.