Spider!

I dwell in the darkest corners of your room

and in the untidy recesses of your mind;

a symbol of fear -- tiny token of doom;

a reclusive, I’m elusive and not easy to find.

 

I sit in silence in my woven silk web and

muse at your silly human complexities --

‘til the rising moon summons you to your bed,

I’ll delve into my simplistic arachnidan fantasies.

 

I’ve studied your habits and learned them well.

I know the precise moment that you’ll fall asleep

by the times I watched as your chest rose and fell,

so I bide my time until your breathing is deep.

 

The clock on the wall strikes eleven, and then

it’s the wond’rous moment I’ve been waiting for

when I can leave my home and begin to descend

the eight foot length ‘tween the ceiling and floor.

 

‘Tis a shame I’ve no one to appreciate my

timing and skill – I skitter this way and that

in front of the door which I must hurry by

to avoid being seen by your big ugly cat.

 

Up the bedpost and to the top of the canopy,

I pause for a moment and admire my prize;

 moments from now I will be where I long to be,

delighting at the tickle from the lash of your eye.

 

‘Tis a dangerous game I play here each night,

when you consider our vast difference in size;

my life would cease with one swat born of fright, as

I know the very sight of me you greatly despise.

 

I hunker down close to your soft, warm skin

and brace myself, anticipating the excitement

that will ensue when I bite you again and again;

awakened, you’ll scream as I scram to the vent.

 

I laugh to myself while you fumble about and

then leap in great terror right out of your bed;

you toss sheets aside and dare me to come out

with no idea I’m hanging just over your head!

 

 

Author's Note

I am terrified of spiders, but I like to write about what I fear. This poem inspired me to host the "Phobia" contest for which I will ask entrants to do the same.

Reviews

[Candle in the wind]

Oops it sent a chill down my spine!These horrible creatures seem to be lurking everywhere.Its such a macabre vision to think of the spider sniggering at our complexities! A very powerful poem indeed.It is very visually evocative and picks at our anxieties and follies as well.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Ohhh very dark... I love the metaphor of the a spider being the mistakes in your past that seem to haunt you night after night as they weave a web of fear around your tying you down and preventing you from further happiness, we must find a way to cut out of that web and kill the spider, easier said then done. Spine chilling write.

[Twisted Words (Tom)]

I'm looking at the vent, and over my head. Checking the floor too. Your spider is cool. I want to be like him. Ugh! There he is on my toast!.... I'll just give it away to some one. I really did enjoy this poem.

[desertraven]

this could easily encompass any number of preditors. very well done, I admire you facing your fears.
Sandra

[Rhiannon Dragonraine]

I really like this one it is inventive and very creative though it leaves me wondering if I should go to sleep tonight- I share your fear of spiders and so this caused just a little shiver in my spine as I read it and imagined the feelings and the creepiness. Wonderful way to face your fears though I am not sure how theraputic it would be I really do like this piece.

[JC Fox]

I thought this was an adorable poem, I never woke up with a spider hanging over my head, I have been startled by some spiders which looked like mini tarantulas, and it made me wonder if by some miracle my tarantulas did spawn. But all in all I loved the perspective of the spider and the big ugly cat, there are also times when the big dumb dog tries to play with the spider too.

[Dani California]

This poem could quite possibly send my daughter into the arms of a straight jacket if I were to have her read it (she too is arachnophobic). This is fantastic! So creative - and wonderfully written! Bravo!

[deadlife]

oooooo.....creepy.

a nice write..indeed.

[Brenda Sue]

I am with you girl. Don't want no spiders here. Wonderfully penned. Great job.

[Gary H]

I'm fascinated by spiders. I'm not sure about whether I feel the evil or darkness in them or whether it's just the way they keep just out of view watching and waiting. This clever poem encapsulates all the thinking that is associated with them and I love the way you have used a spidery write to show the poem.
The one thing you missed is how crunchy they are and sometimes the larger ones are particularly chewy. Actually not sure if I should have put that.......

[The Mad Prophet]

I love Spider, this poem is awsome :)