Rain-slider
Snail, snail,
why are you so slow
as you wend your way
down the path?
Snail, snail,
do you prefer the rain to the sunshine?
Who said that you could go out
with no umbrella?
Snail, snail,
why is your house upon your back?
Why take your frail home wherever you go?
Snail, snail,
why do you hide so quickly,
slipping back into your home
whenever I’m around?
Snail, snail,
is it hard to move along
with only one foot to step your way?
Snail, snail,
who condemned you to slither
through the world
not able to fly, hop, skip or jump?
Snail, snail,
are you leaving a silvery trail
for someone else to follow?
Snail, snail,
when your alien eyes jut out
curious on sensitive stalks,
can see me, watching you?
why are you so slow
as you wend your way
down the path?
Snail, snail,
do you prefer the rain to the sunshine?
Who said that you could go out
with no umbrella?
Snail, snail,
why is your house upon your back?
Why take your frail home wherever you go?
Snail, snail,
why do you hide so quickly,
slipping back into your home
whenever I’m around?
Snail, snail,
is it hard to move along
with only one foot to step your way?
Snail, snail,
who condemned you to slither
through the world
not able to fly, hop, skip or jump?
Snail, snail,
are you leaving a silvery trail
for someone else to follow?
Snail, snail,
when your alien eyes jut out
curious on sensitive stalks,
can see me, watching you?
This poem is copyright (©) Pie Corbett 2025
About the Writer
Pie Corbett
Pie Corbett is an English educational trainer, writer, storyteller and poet. He has edited 24 anthologies and his collection, ‘Evidence of Dragons’ is a classroom staple. He was writer-in residence at the Kent festival, and has appeared at the Cheltenham and Edinburgh Festivals. He has worked on BBC radio and tv programmes, was nominated for a BAFTA and the Japanese Prize for educational tv. He is well-known for creating the Talk for Writing approach to learning, which is widely used within UK primary schools and around the world. A new collection is appearing in September from Otter-Barry Books, titled Dragon Cat.
