Tegenaria
Tegenaria
by Laura Summerville Reed
I run the water and settle in
Rosy and warm before I notice you
But you’ve noticed me
I was here only hours ago
Did you watch me then
Did you assume the tenant had moved off the land
You’ve come like a beggar seeking refuge and drink
Yet, you’ve already set yourself up like a queen
On a woven throne
Ruling from a corner vantage point
Your boldness earns my respect
Still I’m your uneasy subject
I sometimes enjoy company
And a bit of conversation as I bathe
But your eight eyes upon me
Are more like an audience
You’re no casual observer
And I desire no interaction
I remind you that we are kindred spirits
Taking in what we need
For threading, spinning, weaving out
Things that string together and catch
You deserve a greener kingdom
Than my bathroom wall affords
But for now I will leave you
To enjoy a drink of water, the steam
Rising from my tub
And the pitch dark and solitude once I’ve gone
With mutual regard we will make fine bath mates
and weavers of things that catch
©LSR 2010