Wednesdays on One Poem Only are a double feature: one poem here on the podcast, and one more by the same poet shared on Instagram.

Snail

Lizzie Elliot-Klein

In your spiral shell

you hold the answer –

slowness is radical.

From the ash pile

of my burn out,

I see you everywhere.

Clinging to walls,

meandering through moss,

criss-crossing my path.

Reaching unbelievable heights

at speeds that will win no medals –

just savouring the

silvery slowness

of your

trail.

In your spiral shell

you hold the answer –

softness is strength.

Inching forward on vulnerable ripples,

retreating when the world is harsh,

rebuilding your shell with self-made gold,

In your spiral shell

you hold the answer –

I too can change.

My soft body thriving in gentleness

Kintsugi shell gleaming

in the light of spring

as I carve my

curling

silver

life trail

slowly

steadily

softly

at my own

snail’s

pace.

More from Lizzie Elliot-Klein ↓

1. @ofbrackenandbrine on Instagram

Watch the Second Poem

You can watch and listen to Belly. by Lizzie Elliot-Klein as part of our Wednesday double feature on Instagram at @rembrandts.cure.

Support + Stay Connected to OPO

If you’d like to support the show, Substack and Patreon members receive a copy of my book, For My Daughter, along with episodes from the audiobook.

Two poems. One poet. Let the words keep moving.

Mentioned in this episode:

Write After: National Poetry Month with One Poem Only

Write After is a way to encourage poets to listen and write, and use National Poetry Month to highlight how listening to poetry makes us better poets. I know I write the best when I’m surrounded by beautiful poetry–it’s part of the reason I created this podcast, and I want to encourage others to share this practice. We'll get started in April. You can share to #WriteAfterOPO.

#WriteAfterOPO