O Holy One
who governs the vast and endless spaces
between the galaxies,
yet cares for the sparrows sold two for a farthing,
you fashioned this wee eight-legged engine,
geometer of lethal gossamer,
fly-slayer, death-weaver, rain-catcher,
critter I swat with a furious slipper
if I spy him in the bathroom.
I cannot discern your purpose in making this creature,
bane of housewives, arachnid mascot of Halloween:
perhaps you meant to give your human poets
an example of patience and measure,
of fatal and unswerving concentration,
architect adept
at storm-sturdy structures of air and thread.
Strong symbolism throughout, and I very much like how you take something as tiny as a spider and create it as a vast being. Especially because of the experience of writing a similar poem and also reading / commenting on the larger conversation, I appreciate these lines best:
“perhaps you meant to give your human poets
an example of patience and measure,
of fatal and unswerving concentration”
I’m very grateful for your kindness and for your particular insights, highlighting the phrases that spoke to you most. Thank you most sincerely!
What a gloriously beautiful and intricate poem – exploring the spider as the tiny creation of one who creates galaxies, the representation of so much stoic patience and endeavour – this ” wee eight-legged engine,
geometer of lethal gossamer/fly-slayer, death-weaver, rain-catcher.” It may be a ‘critter’ that many of us ease out of the rooms we live in, but it becomes so much more here!
Anne, thank you! I’m very gratified by your response to this poem; I’m glad that you see so much in it. Thanks again!
You’re most welcome! I enjoy the Metaphysical poets, and this poem seems to echo with the breadth of their vision and their attention to detail!
That is high praise indeed, praise which I cherish. Many thanks, and hope to see you in the Anthology this year!
I have last year’s Poetry Marathon anthology, and am pleased to see your poem “Dark Days” on page 87!
Did you take part in the marathon last year? Yes – I remember writing Dark Days: the marathon has been an incredibly productive experience for me and I’ve been delighted to make some really good friends across the world as a result of participating in it!
I’m a newbie to the Marathon, but my friend Elena did the full 24 last year!
It’s quietly addictive!
Nice Juxtapositioning.