A Snail’s Pace

By Carol J. Douglas

S. Cargot just loved to race.
He begged his friends to "pick up the pace!"

The other snails looked on with woe.
"Oh, S. Cargot we move too slow!"

S. Cargot still wanted to run.
Maybe some bugs might want some fun?

"Praying Mantis, will you race today?"
"I don’t have time, must kneel and pray."

"Earthworm, will you race with me?"
"But, S. Cargot, I cannot see!"

The carpenter bee was too busy drilling.
It seemed no bug was ready or willing.

So S. Cargot slowed down and sighed.
"Will no one race with me?" he cried!

Slithering past was a slimy slug.
"I’ll race," he said with a little shrug.

The flea joined in to begin the show.
"On your mark, get set, get ready, GO!"

Before the racers could get too far,
The slug bug jumped in his tiny car!

"Not fair!" cried S. when the car sped past.
"That’s not the way to move so fast!"

The tears in his eyes made it hard to swallow,
But S. Cargot decided to follow.

So off he sped with a burst of speed!

"I’ll catch up!" he firmly decreed.

The crowd around began to cheer.
Slug bug glanced in his rear view mirror.

"Oh no!" he cried in sudden dread,
"S. Cargot is getting ahead!"

And just as they were rounding the bend,
S. Cargot could see the end!

He sped past all in such a flurry,
moving along in such a hurry.

S. won the race with jubilation,
hugging his friends in celebration!

Now Slug Bug put his car in park.
He slithered out and his mood was dark.

"I can’t believe you ran so far,
especially past my little car."

S. Cargot just yawned and said,
"I’m tired now, must go to bed!"