{"sf1_id":649335,"sf2_id":"ZmM3NLD1","title":"The Mind Spiders","author":"Arcane Reno","words":256,"posted_at":"2014-01-15T22:36:00.000Z","tags":["Dark","Poetry"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/649335-the-mind-spiders","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/ZmM3NLD1","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/b9/c7/b9c7e3fb-2b28-48d7-acd1-11278049b506","description":"#2 of Poems\n\nI seem to have been on a bit of a poetry kick lately. This one is almost the complete opposite of my last, but I hope you folks will enjoy nonetheless!","content":"  \n  \n\nI saw a man with a spider yesterday.\n\nEight beady black eyes not once a'flicking,\n\nShiny sharp mandibles champing and clicking.\n\nIt perched atop his head; a great bird of prey.\n\n  \n\n\"Sir,\" I asked, \"Might I inquire what troubles you?\"\n\n\"My job and my wife,\" he replied, \"I fear to lose both.\"\n\n\"But surely you won't,\" I said, \"If you value their worth.\"\n\n\"His wife who is cheating,\" the dark spider hissed, \"with his boss too.\"\n\n  \n\nThe man and his spider went on their way.\n\nI wondered if I were going insane.\n\nWhat sort of folk had spiders in their brain?\n\nBut that was not the last I saw that day.\n\n  \n\nA young woman was next, pleasingly plump.\n\nHer hairy spider crouched, fat body dangling,\n\nNear crushing a small dog, its tags rudely jangling,\n\nAnd enough claws and spines to make a porcupine jump.\n\n  \n\n\"Miss,\" said I, \"could you spare the time?\"\n\n\"Too much trouble,\" she yawned, \"home I must be.\"\n\n\"Yes,\" rasped the spider, \"for nap number three.\"\n\n\"Apologies,\" I said, \"rest is most sublime.\"\n\n  \n\nThe pair trundled off, leaving me to ponder;\n\nIf all folk had these spiders, might I have one too?\n\nWhat shape did it take, what vice, what hue?\n\nFear? Anger? Sloth? Perhaps Gluttony? Which failing is mine, I wonder, I wonder.\n\n  \n\nI avoid my reflection now, be it pond or mirror.\n\nWho knows what I'd see, clinging to my head;\n\nA horrid beast of octants, fangs dripping red.\n\nI don't wish to know, for it's the spider I fear.\n\n  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp;  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"Poems","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/648727-to-touch-the-sky.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/663829-bird-s-eye-view.json"}}