The Spider’s Dream

Sam spider spun a web on top of a crocus

He asked his mum 'why do humans hate us?

Our webs are delicate and do them no harm

So why do they jump up in a state of alarm

When we cross their walls and  hang from their ceilings

Don't they know we also have feelings?'

His mum picked her way past old apple peelings

And cabbage leaves, where field mice were squealing

Cockroaches scuttled and worms were feeling

Their way through compost, while bugs went creeping

Hungry and chewing as they hid between plants

Hoping the spider would not think they were ants

Every slug knows ants can’t bear to feel

The clinging cold web where they end up as a meal 

Wrapped and ready once the spiders have rested

Scavenging food wherever they nested. 

'You see,' said Sam spider we do get on well

With so many creatures as far as I can tell.

So, why can't we live alongside girls and boys

Why can't they see just us as harmless as toys?'

His mum stretched her legs. 'This is not a good time

I'm about to give up this old skeleton of mine

And form a new body so I can grow larger

It will take many hours so excuse my departure.'

Sam spider spun round and said to his dad

'Mum can't help so what experience have you had

With two legged people who pick off our legs

And are happy to squash us and bash in our heads?

What have we done to deserve such a fate?

Every spider I know can't explain so much hate.'

Dad said ‘listen to a tale I’ve kept to myself 

About a girl who trapped me on top of a shelf

Inside a bottle which was sticky and brown

And then  added water to see if I'd drown

I thought it was the last time I'd spin lines of silk

After she dropped me in a saucer of milk.'

'That sounds very nasty,' said the young spider

Where was mum? Why couldn't you find her?'

'At first I was stuck and could not change shape

I was worried I’d shrink with no hope of escape

So, I waited for night time and slipped over the saucer

Climbed up a wall where I decided to haunt her.

It would teach her a lesson she would never forget

And when she was sleeping  I spun a wide net

It stretched over her face, her neck and her shoulders

And became entangled around her hair rollers

She screamed of course as you would expect

But it was meant to remind her it is never correct

To be harmful to spiders who just wish to pass by

Without being trapped as we wander inside

We’re just using our webs to go searching for food

We're not trying to influence the state of your mood

But I believe it's unlikely and I cannot pretend

That humans and spiders will ever be friends.'

Sam said ‘when I grow up will it still be the same?

Will I ever be someone's pet with a name

And go spinning my silk into magical shapes

Glistening with frost in the dark winter days

For the fun of seeing children come close as  they gaze

And instead of being shocked, just look amazed?'

Sam spider left the web attached to the flower

Crawled past a gate and hour after hour

Watched children pick roses and run with their dogs

As he wriggled past twigs and through hollow logs

'Spiders have been here for millions of years

It's time for all children to abandon their fears.'

The young spider pushed his legs as fast as he could

He wanted to show them that spiders are good

Through the tall grass and  over large weeds

He followed the children to a lake full of reeds

If only they knew that he wanted to play

He might change their minds about spiders one day.

Earthworms silently slid out of his way

Not an ant could be seen at least not today

Big beaked birds watched from faraway trees

While the air hummed with the assembly of bees

Sam spider grew tired as the route to the lake

Made his lean furry legs buckle and ache

But he made up his mind there was no turning back

He had no ears but his legs helped him track

The sound of the children as they sat and reclined

His eight eyes  helped him see ahead and behind

So, he slowly came closer to a bag full of biscuits

A picnic had started and Sam decided to risk it

One of the group spotted Sam on a plate

She stared at his face and counted up to eight

'There,' she said  'Didn't I tell you its eyes

Make spiders look scary which is no surprise

But this one  seems lost so we should leave it alone.'

And Sam had to accept he'd always be on his own.