Home   Home

A Lesson From Those Usually Loathed

by Chris Sorrenti


"I get more accomplished not setting out what I intended to do," said the
spider suddenly distracted by a missing piece of its web. "I start to repair a
strand or two, and see five other places in need of mending. I look forward to
a nice juicy butterfly for lunch, and instead an ant stumbles into my life’s
work, and then I have to start all over again."

"I know what you mean," said the other spider listening intently.
"Oh the plans I make, sitting out under the stars,
but often I put them off till morning when I’m still quite sleepy,
and if I wait too long, by afternoon...much too hot to get anything done."

So distracted was the spider in talking to its friend, it didn't see the shadow
quickly moving over the tips of the grass towards them. The first spider in
slightly better position barely had time to drop behind a rock, for in a flap of
feather in front of its very eyes, the second spider had been carried off to
certain doom.

© 1991

1,790 hits as of June 2024


04/20/2008

Author's Note: In celebration of 35 years writing poetry (as of June 23rd), I've been pulling out and dusting off some older pieces that I've never posted before. Though in my opinion not masterpieces, I feel each has some redeeming quality that has kept me from tossing them into the wastebasket.

Posted on 04/20/2008
Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Quentin S Clingerman on 04/21/08 at 01:44 PM

Now here is a wonderful morality tale told in verse. Old may mean better!

Posted by Bruce W Niedt on 04/22/08 at 01:32 PM

Nice little fable, Chris. Congrats on your "anniversary"! d:-)

Posted by Elizabeth Jill on 04/22/08 at 04:54 PM

I enjoy the conversation in this, and the story. More! More! More!

Posted by Morgan D Hafele on 04/22/08 at 08:07 PM

i want more talking spiders chris... i just imagine this little spider lady all done up in a bonnet speaking with her friend over the hedge or some equivalent... not a huge fan of the end, but the first two stanzas are great! i think they deserve to begin a children's story with a clever moral.

Posted by Gregory O'Neill on 04/23/08 at 06:23 PM

Ha! Yes, the certain doom we all can fall prey to, should we remain unawares to reality. Like this especially: "Oh the plans I make, sitting out under the stars,"....thanks.

Posted by Wendy Sparling on 06/05/08 at 03:19 AM

Old is good, eh.

Posted by Glenn Currier on 06/22/09 at 04:36 PM

Hey, I like it. It brought a smile to my face. You have such an rich and extraordinary body of work. You rank right up there at the top of the list of "Greats" on this website. Thanks for all the love to so many here, Chris.

Return to the Previous Page
 

pathetic.org Version 7.3.2 May 2004 Terms and Conditions of Use 0 member(s) and 2 visitor(s) online
All works Copyright © 2024 their respective authors. Page Generated In 0 Second(s)