Like a snail, I move through the cosmos,

Like a kid

In a candy shop

Taking in every possibility.

So many strange and wonderful confections I see!

Maybe too many to choose only three.

Maybe I will never eat any of the candy. 

Maybe I honor the candy this way.

I catch sight of myself in the mirror behind the glass case.

My face is that of a snail.

My upper tentacles are cute bug-eyes, and

Childlike, like puppy-dog ears,

But my spiral shell is tattooed

With a dark gray and light gray yin-yang,

Yang-Yin,

Eternally going out and in.

When did I get to be this way?

When did I get this said tattoo?

Who painted me?

Part of me so naturally exudes the substance that I need

To glide through this existence,

And yet another part seems less than true.

But I’m exiting this candy shop, slowly,

Some might say “unscathed.”

Its bright lights and mirrors create exclusivity,

But it is the murky in betweens that issue to me the call I heed.

They offer me inclusion,

And I yearn to cast my bread upon their waters and be at peace,

Free from hopes and free from dreams,

And maybe even leave the cosmic currents free 

To pick my three boons out for me.

And now I’m riding on a turtle’s back.

This seems very fast to me.

The thrill is just almost too much.

It makes me yell out, “WHEEEE!”

Yes, maybe I better let someone else make my wishes for me.

-jenn