Ruth Moose: "The Crossing"

The snail at the edge of the road
inches forward, a trim gray finger
of a fellow in pinstripe suit.
He’s burdened by his house
that has to follow
where he goes. Every inch,
he pulls together
all he is,
all he owns,
all he was given.

The road is wide
but he is called
by something
that knows him
on the other side.

"The Crossing" by Ruth Moose, from 75 Poems on Retirement, edited by Robin Chapman and Judith Strasser. © University of Iowa Press, 2007.

Photograph: Detail from "Snail Crossing," by Robin Loznak, 2012 (originally color).