Spiders

I sprayed a fly on my screen

that looks out on the lake

and by mistake hit a hidden spider

who lived behind in there.

I felt sorry and rather mean,

looking up from time to time

to watch the spider die.

He struggled in small circles

with legs that wouldn't walk.

I thought he must be feeling

very sick and sorry for himself

as the chemical choked his life,

but leaning closer to the screen,

I saw him reeling web and building,

and, "Oh!" I thought, "It's life!"

I looked up moments later,

and he hung there, quite dead.


(Coe Review, Coe College,  Issue 16, 1986)