Snail Villanelle

On the Gumbo Limbo Trail—
Shinning white luminescence—
I finally saw the tree snail.

Color of mother-of-pearl,
Rare as a Transit of Venus,
On the Gumbo Limbo Trail.

Whorled, slow-moving shell
Out of Cuba, the liguus
I finally saw the tree snail.

These patterns inspire calico shawls,
Rick rack and zig-zag and fuss,
On the Gumbo Limbo Trail.

One moon in the sky, pale spiral—
Simply its nature to please us—
I finally saw the tree snail.

Far-off, one white sail
As on the sea,the phosphorescence.
On the Gumbo Limbo trail
I finally saw the tree snail.