The Spider Behind the Mirror

by Larry Chamberlin   Jun 24, 2015


Driving downtown a motion
from outside my window
caught my attention.

I had rushed because I was late
so I did not see the spider web
on my drivers side rear-view.

Looking now I saw her
bouncing on her web
whipped by the wind;
how marvelous the strands
not tearing in such fierce gale.

When I stopped at a light
she frantically dove under
the edge into the casing.

What now?
Perhaps I should have flushed her out,
just for the sake of keeping the car clean;
but I could tell she was not poisonous;
what has she done to deserve the death sentence?

I got downtown, parked, went inside
and totally forgot about the poor creature;
in fact, it was not until I had driven away
that I thought to look over:
there she was in her freshly repaired web
holding on for dear life.

Soon enough, at the first light
she raced for her safe haven.
Next morning soon as I closed the door
and started the engine, I glanced over -
she was scooting undercover
before the hurricane began.

I have developed a certain fondness for her,
knowing how well she learns,
and the fact that she perseveres so well.
She has a home and she's welcome to it.

    report violation
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Latest Comments

  • 8 years ago

    by Meme

    Weekly Contest Judging comment:
    -----------------------------------------

    This poem became a favorite of mine right away. It gave me a sense of adaptation, we can always coexist with others id we were smart and patient enough to understand and see them for who they are.
    As for the progression of the poem I specifically liked the way it was narrated, its true that at the first glance anybody would easily try to get rid of the web together with its host, but to try and keep it just to see how it reacts and adjusts to its surroundings make me see a side of the poet that shows who he is as a person. And I was glad how he build an adoration for the the little visitor. Lovely piece!

  • 8 years ago

    by Sunshine

    Omgggggggggg...........brilliant, frontpage piece!

  • 8 years ago

    by Maple Tree

    Ohhh Larry :-(

  • 8 years ago

    by Liz

    I never thought I would feel any kind of affection towards a spider just by reading something like this. I usually come across brown recluse spiders, black/brown widows so I don't feel as bad for....getting rid of them. Anyway, I enjoyed reading this! Thank you for sharing

    • 8 years ago

      by Larry Chamberlin

      Like Andrea I was bitten by a brown recluse, but my bite was 49 years ago. It was likely my fault for never taking my wrestling clothes home for the entire season. I never told anyone, fearing I'd be kicked off the team. Nice deep & wide hole in my ankle (about 1.5 round & almost to the bone). Used Bactine on it for weeks. I still love spiders. [I raised some black widows once, but that's another story - maybe a poem.]

  • 8 years ago

    by Mr. Darcy

    Hello,

    I like this too. I used to have a spider who lived behind by car door mirror. Each time I washed my car the web would come away. But, the very next day she would have busied herself and another fine creation was there to greet me. This carried on for nearly a year. Perseverance indeed!

    You have inspired me. What do you think?

    Haiku

    Fragile Masterpiece

    Damaged silky strands
    rewoven day after day
    Spiders working hard

    Thanks for the memory. 5/5

    Michael

    • 8 years ago

      by Larry Chamberlin

      That's amazing that we had similar experiences with spiders. Living in car mirrors seemed bizarre!
      Great haiku.

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