The Spider
It is that time of year again. The large house spiders are on the move. The big males are off hunting females to mate. They bounce across your carpet, veering and halting unpredictable.
They lurk in the recesses and under everything.
They are huge, dark and hairy. Their bristles are evil.
At night they emerge to climb walls and on to beds.
They appear in bath-tubs and showers.
They also loom even larger in my imagination!
I am an entomologist. I should know better. But childhood experiences combine with evolutionary instinct to tell me that these things are dangerous, evil and a malevolent force.
Nothing will persuade me otherwise.
We have a huge one in the house. My wife saw it scurry under the bath.
I know it’s there, somewhere.
The Spider
Malevolently scurrying across the floor,
Scuttling to a standstill, assessing,
Watching with its many eyes,
Weighing up the scene.
Then darting into dark crevices
Impossible to squeeze into
To lurk and plan
Its evil re-emergence.
When darkness falls
It is there
Under the cushion
Under the pillow
Brushing the sleeping face
With its bristles
Legs and gnashing mandibles.
Delighting in its success.
No web
Or patient wait
For this one.
He is quick
And unpredictable,
Equipped with
Many legs
And a brain
That intends
To terrify.
There
When
You
Least
Expect.
Huge
Dark
Hairy
And
Fast.
No ordinary spider.
Opher 3.9.2015
But spiders can be useful, too. One summer I had one spin its web just inside my bedroom window – in exactly the place the wasps liked to use to get in at 5am. I didn’t have a single wasp in the bedroom all that summer!
You are right! I am a biologist. Spiders have an essential role in the web of life. I just suffer from arachnophobia! It’s irrational!
I’m reading a brilliant book Neil – Yuval Noah Harrari 21 lessons for the 21st Century. Right up your street!
I still remember the story of your friend when you were boys.
Really? Wow. That must be a while ago.
That is implanted in my brain!
And in mine!
Sorry!
❤️