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| Orb Weaver Spider |
The early morning light catches a dew speckled web in the
marsh. You can see such webs driving
down the road, riding a bike, but it is best on foot. You can observe the intricacies of the web,
contemplate the mastery of the spinner with just a tiny speck for a brain, and
never a teacher, or even a YouTube mentor to show it how it’s done. Look close at the round globes of dew hanging
from the web and notice the upside down, reversed and distorted world
inside. In a web you can read the story
from the night before. A hole in the web
might indicate that some large insect, like a katydid crashed into the web
tearing the silken threads. You can find
last night’s meal still stuck, or perhaps a snack all bundled up to be eaten
later.
If you are watching close to your feet as you walk, you’ll
probably miss the web maker altogether, they will have dropped from view before
you reach them. Look ahead a little way
as you walk and you’ll see them. As you
approach some will drop out of sight, but every now and then a slow approach
and a cool morning the web spinner will stay dead center. Some are small, and some are huge, at least
by my standards. These are some of the
orb weaver spiders. I could tell you
some facts about orb weavers, but I must admit I’d have to go research them,
and for me the orb weavers are like stars, they are for looking at in
wonder. I care not for the names of
stars, what they are made of. I may know
some of those things, but when I look up at the sky it is a time to feel; to
feel awe, to feel small and not to think.
When I look deep into the many eyes of the orb weavers I feel afraid,
and feel it is time to move on. Go
search out the orb weavers if you dare.
You can find them in the marshes, prairies, and fields all around.
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| Fly Eater |
