Imagination is more important
than knowledge.
--Albert Einstein
The spike-topped apple snail has lunged with its
lemon-chiffon muscular foot too long
through crystal-glinting aquarium grit,
its burnt-orange eyes surveying thick throngs
of the same tropical fish. Bored with old
colors, it swells this dark, rose-streaked shell, dreams
it’s a hot-air balloon, lifts off with bold
swipes of butterscotch antennae past streams
of fins, finding water’s crest, then fresh air,
avoiding an antique desk lamp, floating
toward and through wide gaping window to stare
while discovering sun’s glow feeding spring
flowers, leaves of apple trees, sudden flight
raising dazed mollusk through clouds to great light.
Roger Armbrust
November 2, 2007
