Tiffany's Post

(For Tiffany)
Considering the Snail by Thom Gunn

The snail pushes through a green
night, for the grass is heavy
with water and meets over
the bright path he makes, where rain
has darkened the earth's dark. He
moves in a wood of desire,

pale antlers barely stirring
as he hunts. I cannot tell
what power is at work, drenched there
with purpose, knowing nothing.
What is a snail's fury? All
I think is that if later

I parted the blades above
the tunnel and saw the thin
trail of broken white across
litter, I would never have
imagined the slow passion
to that deliberate progress.


In this poem, the speaker praises the snail's determination to overcome its surroundings; this praise is NOT undermined by the speaker's ease in accomplishing the same tasks.
The diction particularly points to the speaker's admiration. By using active verbs such as "push" and "hunts," which are words not normally describing snails, the speaker highly praises the snail. "Hunts" especially empowers the snail with a focused goal that it must accomplish. Also, the diction of "desire," "purpose," and "passion" highlight the snail's motivation and determination. These strong words illustrate the speaker's praise of the snail. Also, the description of the snail's surroundings enhances the speaker's admiration. The speaker describes the grass as "green night" and later a "wood of desire." The glorification of grass places the snail in more elaborate, mysterious surroundings which must be explored or ventured into. "Green night" envelops the snail in grass blades and darkness, which also adds to the danger and mystery of where the snail is heading.
Although the speaker can physically push aside the grass easily, he admires the snail's passionate dedication to its task. The diction of the absolute "never," demonstrates the speaker's empathy by recognizing that the snail is faced with difficult challenges which require much of its will. By saying that he could "never" imagine the snail's passion, the speaker acknowledges that its is easy to underestimate the snail's determination.