Chosen

I was mistaken, and thought we

got to choose our spirit animal.

But no... mine has chosen me,

most decidedly.

I’m told it means I have a symmetrical soul,

that I understand the balance between

the darkness and the light of this world,

that I can reweave the patterns of my life

to make it both positive and useful.

Certain legends hold that my totem

taught the first humans their letters

and the art of writing -- a generous gift by all accounts.

I often appear delicate and agile. Tiny,

yet I can spin my influence beyond my

size, luring resources to the center of my

world, there to feed my hungry spirit.

I can be tricky, but mostly by sitting still,

creating illusions that stream from me like

gossamer threads, sweet and sticky.

This resonates with the power of old stories,

tales told around campfires in distant times,

under stars that watch us still. While I might

have wanted to be owl, badger, or fox, that

choice was never mine. I am, without doubt,

completely spider.