Itsy Bitsy

It was the smallest gift

I have ever given,

no bigger than a fruit fly.

It was a fruit fly, in fact,

captured after 15 minutes

and much frustration.

I held it gingerly between

thumb and forefinger

apologizing all the while

to it, to the gods,

to nature in general

(which is not kind, but

still deserves an apology).

With a flick I send

this small creature

to the spider who has

claimed a corner of

my porch for its own.

I watch with dread and fascination

as – don’t blink -- the spider

sprints out to grab my struggling gift

and races back to its hoard.

It didn’t stop to say thank you.

Spiders never do, but that’s OK.

In truth, it was a very tiny gift.