Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO THE SPIDER, by THOMAS RUSSELL (1762-1788)


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO THE SPIDER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Ingenious insect, but of ruthless mould
Last Line: Then most delighted, when his prey is man.
Subject(s): Insects; Spiders; Bugs


Ingenious insect, but of ruthless mould,
Whose savage craft, as Nature taught, designs
A mazy web of death, the filmy lines,
That form thy circling labyrinth, enfold
Each thoughtless fly, that wanders near thy hold,
Sad victim of thy guile; nor aught avail
His silken wings, nor coat of glossy mail,
Nor varying hues of azure, jet, or gold:
Yet, though thus ill the fluttering captive fares,
Whom heedless of the fraud thy toils trepan,
Thy tyrant-fang, that slays the stranger, spares
The bloody brothers of thy cruel clan;
While man against his fellows spreads his snares,
Then most delighted, when his prey is man.





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