daddy-longlegs

for D H Lawrence

I arrive with my soap and towel
But there in the empty bath
Is a daddy-longlegs.

I shall return in an hour.
He'll be gone by then. I think
They must come up the plughole

For I can't figure out where else
they could come from. But I never
Seem to be able to spot them

Coming and going so I can't really say
If it's true. An hour later I'm back
But now there are two. He's prancing

Before her as if he wants to impress
With his long slender legs. I think his brain
Is the size of a dot. She is not impressed

Or at least she doesn't appear to be,
For when he runs to her in all his eagerness
She scampers to a spot a foot away and

He quickly gives up the chase. Now they stand
As still as only they can and stare at each other.
What are they thinking? Can they, do they, think?

And if so, with what? With their tiny brains
Each the size of a dot? I think not.
But who can tell? I go away, I'll come back later.

And when I return I see only her. He's gone
Down the plughole I suspect. Did he? Didn't he?
Did she? Didn't she? She looks unmoved

As far as one can tell. Now I'll go to bed
And have my bath tomorrow. At least
I will if the bath is free!

______
gw-2010