what do spiders think
when some mammoth asshole
with sequoia arms
and foresty fur
comes traipsing along,
casually lifting his dangling limb,
and with one effortless sweep,
rips apart the spider's
fine silk, fine art
masterpiece of a home?

does she say to herself,
"oh christ, not again"
or
"that was my greatest work yet!"
or
"great, now I have to eat another fly
so I can shit out some more silk"
or
"curse those blasted humans
and their entire pods!"
or
"how will I sleep without my silk sheets?"

or do no thoughts whatsoever
cross her tiny mind?
does she simply notice
the web is gone
and start over
without a passing inkling
of a thought?

any feelings of rage?
sorrow?
disappointmentlossemptinessunfulfillmentnothing?

anything?

anything at all?

or just blind-eyed,
unflinching,
glaring,
automatous
continuation.

well?

what is it?

07/28/2010

Author's Note: spiders.

Posted on 07/28/2010
Copyright © 2025 Eric Hinkle