Parker/Poetry

I'm using lines and phrases from spider-themed poems and songs as part of the titles of my logs. I'll be including the poems and song lyrics here for those who may be interested.

My primary sources are these two sites:

• Spider Poems at DiscoverPoetry.com
• Search results for 'Spider' at Lyrics.com (does not like AddBlocker)

The actual quotes will be in italics.

Poems

A Cobweb Made to Order

by Aunt Effie

I.

A hungry Spider made a web    Of thread so very fine, Your tiny fingers scarce could feel    The little slender line.        Round-about, and round-about,            And round-about it spun,        Straight across and back again,            Until the web was done.

II.

Oh, what a pretty shining web    It was, when it was done! The little flies all came to see    It hanging in the sun.        Round-about, and round-about,            And round-about they danced,        Across the web and back again            They darted and they glanced.

III.

The hungry Spider sat and watched    The happy little flies;        It saw all round about its head,    It had so many eyes.        Round-about, and round-about,            And round-about they go,        Across the web and back again,            Now high—now low.

IV.

"I am hungry, very hungry,"    Said the Spider to a fly. "If you were caught within the web,    You very soon should die."        But round-about, and round-about,            And round-about, once more,        Across the web and back again            They flitted as before.

V.

For all the flies were much too wise    To venture near the Spider; They flapped their little wings and flew    In circles rather wider.        Round-about, and round-about,            And round about went they,        Across the web and back again,            And then they flew away.

Pretty is That Pretty Does

by Alice Cary

The spider wears a plain brown dress,
   And she is a steady spinner;
To see her, quiet as a mouse,
Going about her silver house,
You would never, never, never guess
   The way she gets her dinner.

She looks as if no thought of ill
   In all her life had stirred her;
But while she moves with careful tread, And
while she spins her silken thread,
She is planning, planning, planning still
   The way to do some murder.

My child, who reads this simple lay,
   With eyes down-dropt and tender, Remember
the old proverb says
That pretty is which pretty does,
And that worth does not go nor stay
   For poverty nor splendor.

'Tis not the house, and not the dress,
   That makes the saint or sinner.
To see the spider sit and spin,
Shut with her walls of silver in,
You would never, never, never guess
   The way she gets her dinner.

The Spider and the Fly

by Mary Howitt

"Will you walk into my parlor?" said the Spider to the Fly.
"'Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to show when you are there."
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain;
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."

"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly.
"There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin;
And if you like to rest a while, I'll snugly tuck you in!"
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!"

Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, "Dear friend, what can I do
To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you?
I have, within my pantry, good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome—will you please to take a slice?"
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind sir, that cannot be,
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"

"Sweet creature," said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise;
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf;
If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."
"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you're pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day."

The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon be back again;
So he wove a subtle web in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready to dine upon the Fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,—
"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple, there's a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead."

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by:
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,—
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue;
Thinking only of her crested head—poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den
Within his little parlor—but she ne'er came out again!

And now, dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly, flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed;
Unto an evil counsellor close heart, and ear, and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale of the Spider and the Fly.

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