spider by phil burns

Click here to hear the poet read his words:

my spider, again

I wonder what she hears
when I speak to her
the little spider
who now shares my home

I address her in French
of course
it seems somehow arrogant
to assume that she’d understand
or tolerate
my west of Scotland brogue
invading her world in a foreign tongue

she no longer flees at my intrusion
into her little corner
but seems to regard me
with indifference
if indeed
she regards me at all

it may be that she is
as unaware of my existence
as I am
and probably you are
of all the tiny creatures
we trample unthinkingly
beneath our feet
every day of our lives

so I talk softly to her
and hope that she senses
my affection