Do spiders think? or simply learn <br />without a thought (well, lucky them) <br />by observation, as great scientists? <br />Does Nature do it all without a 'thought', <br />the spider just some robot, programmed thus? <br /> <br />The spider which the other day <br />built daring, acrobatic, gossamer bridge <br />across the path a guy-lined full six feet <br />so that to reach the gate, I had to genuflect <br />as if in some most holy church's aisle, <br /> <br />That bridge of San Luis Rey, already doomed <br />to break - the postman, paper boy, the milk - <br />I watched while seated in the sun for hours; <br /> <br />and as I watched, grew humbler by the minute; <br />myself the smaller in respect, the spider greater; <br />my lunch was cooking; the spider awaited (hers?) : <br /> <br />and we grew closer, in some unknown place in mind. <br /> <br />Today, a small, great miracle <br />of nature - who may be <br />beyond miracles; or yet bound in a web of law: <br /> <br />Neatly - thoughtfully? - <br />the web was now aligned <br />along the hedge of neighbours and ourselves. <br /> <br />And I was humbled by knowing nothing <br />worth a spider's web.<br /><br />Michael Shepherd<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/website-spider-style/