Figure D22 TROGLOBITE

Spiraling down a sinkhole ringed with stairs

We descend once more into the ground.

A watery cave we find, with humid airs

Deep in darkness, but even here are found

Strange forms of life: bats that see with sound,

Long-legged bugs that palpitate their way

And in the streams translucent fish abound.

Here the OLM blindly hunts its prey,

Obscene and pallid worm, best hidden from the day.