Snail Male br br He was a patient man, br there never seemed to be a need br to rush around, br he was no chicken br and preferred a slimy snail br much to a rabbit br for himself, br though once he hitched br himself br to her, who claimed br that cogs must whirr br and turn br until they generate some heat, br he knew he'd lost the battle, br and that war was in his cards. br Yet on he went, br each day a fresh new deck br was stacked, br against his wishes br and in great defiance br of his greater needs. br So, what to do, br the question took eternity to grow, br until its nature was revealed br to him, br and answers rolled br like coloured marbles br on a polished floor. br Of course! br They'd have a race, br start at the city hall br and finish at God's Acres br at the edge of town. br The scepter would belong, br without a doubt, br and no objections raised, br and none allowed br to he who'd stand, br there, at the finish line. br The rabbit ran, br flew past the crowd, br was cheered by all br and reached the gate br where he collapsed br next to the chapel door. br And died. br Today, br all folks inside the town br and through the lands br where matches are, br by humans made in haste, br his fame is known to all, br and someone named him, br for his cleverness Snail Male.