natural history

tim walker

the spider, dropping down from twig

unwinds a thread of her devising:

a thin, premeditated rig

to use in rising.
and all the journey down through space,

in cool descent, and loyal-hearted,

she builds a ladder to the place

from which she started.
this I, gone forth, as spiders do,

in spider’s web a truth discerning,

attach one silken strand to you

for my returning.

'e. b. white'