24 Poems ~ 24 Hours
For the longest time
I was alone
Until one day
It showed up
In a small corner of the low ceiling
The itsy-bitsy spider swirled
Gracefully, repetitively
Creating a niche
To call home.
I watched fascinated
The sleek movements
All so perfectly balanced
Then I did what I was ought to
And squished it under
A broom with long end.
Going back to being
Alone, the sole master of
My own perfect niche.
His flesh more hot
Then fever touch
The sickness swam
Deeper touch
Exorcised sound within
Resonate on wall too thin
Carried out, that deep desire
Pleading, set my soul in fire
If all we have
Is here and now
Don’t unlock me
Give my bow
She sits near a window and never knocks,
though you know she’s always at home.
Spinning, weaving, making time
by measure of her lengthy thread.
Little delicate creature of black,
why do you hover so?
Peering through my window frame,
do you dream of warm rooms,
no rent,
not hanging by a thread?
Little old woman in your stamp of bright red,
do you know that your sign says
stand back?
I’d love to come and let you in,
if only you would refrain
from venomous tendencies!
Spiders
(after Kobayashi Issa)
I keep house continuously,
but don’t worry. I promise
to move you and your sisters.
Alone in my room,
you sat on the wall,
waiting. Next to my bed.
I turned on the light
And flinched at the sight of you.
You are not ugly.
I flinch anyway.
Alone in the house,
Alone but for you.
In the place where I sleep.
I take a tennis racket,
never used in anger
And try to encourage you
to move from my bed,
I need to sleep.
You fall and as I try to catch you
I squash you instead.
I never meant to hurt you.
I never meant to hurt anyone.
The spider:
She looks at me
With her beatty eyes
She is fury
She’s scared
I may step on her
I am scared
She may drop on me
She and I fear
One another
We know not
We wish no harm
To one another
We unfreeze
We move in with
Our tasks
A new found respect
For one another
Spiders come in big and small
Its legs so long and hairy. (ew!)
Eight of those legs they use to crawl
To find me where I hide.
I gasp!
I bolt!
I whimper!
If I was to speak about my son (and I am)
All 6’2 of him
He would scream like a little girl (he has)
And run hysterically out of the room
Only to have his daughter get the spider
The big, mean, ugly spider
Just so he would not have to.
I am often alone
Don’t seem to be liked
No one to call a friend
I’m a seamstress
I’m a hunter
Yet my skills are overlooked
And I’m doomed to the destiny
Of the soul of a shoe
The forge could not contain his fury.
The heat of a thousand suns pale before his eyes.
The strongest gale quells in his presence.
The lightning, his own dominion, fears his coming wrath.
The thunder god is loose.
He comes to bring wrath and justice.
Let all who do evil flee,
for there is no escape.
Let all who worship him rejoice,
and join the vanguard of his war.
The thunder god, mighty Thor,
will lead us in battle.
Rais arms.
Up shields.
Form the wall,
and let the horns sound.
for we fear no darkness.
Onward to war,
onward to victory,
and Thor’s glorious day!
Let spring exhale and breathe colour into me;
unfurl its petals, rippling leaves and thick, sweet green
until I am heady with the beauty that envelops me
and my heart blossoms in reply.