From a Spider’s Web

Spider photo by Stephane Viau, from Wikimedia Commons

For the last few months a spider has built a web in the same spot every night, on the eaves of the house where I live. I got kind of used to having to watch out for the web as I came up the stairs in the evenings, as it got bigger and bigger as the spider grew. Being the kind of person who gets attached to things easily, and who grew up wanting to be an entomologist, I developed a fondness for this spider and made sure no one ever squished her or tore down her nightly web.

Maybe about a week and a half ago she quit building webs and would hang around limply at night from a couple of strands. I figured she was approaching the end of her short life, and I felt sad for her. This morning I looked up to the little corner of the porch where she usually sleeps during the day and she wasn’t there. And tonight she wasn’t hanging around in her usual spot. I think she’s finally gone.

She must have been old for a spider because she was getting to be huge, the kind of spider that would terrify most normal people. But I’m a big fan of nature, and that includes spiders. I think they’re beautiful, in a lonely, grotesque sort of way. They’re quite underappreciated, except perhaps by people who study them, or maybe a few thinkers or artists who understand them a little. And me. I’m not sure what kind of spider she was. She was medium sized and orange colored, and made a really nice web. Her little egg sac is still hanging from the eaves. I’m going to make sure no one messes with it.

“The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider’s web.” ~Pablo Picasso

Post script: After some time I’ve noticed that my spider seems to still be alive, but moving around to different parts of the porch for the first time in months. Maybe she’s looking for a new place. I’m quite happy she’s not dead. 🙂 I know so precious little about spiders. I’m going to study up.

~ by Sara on September 14, 2013.