a small matter of life & death
little black spider
races across the oak floor
suddenly stops
for no apparent reason
is he out of breath
and simply needs to rest
or has he forgotten
his desired destination
now recalculating a new route
from where I sit I am
less than two steps
away from the little fellow
a single question
repeating in my mind
the obvious answer
lying in my compassion for life
january two thousand twenty-four
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
jdubqca 
poor thing 🥲
ha ha I wonder where he is now!