Students - Earlier one evening this week, my husband called me outside to see a mother wolf spider covered in babies. I had never seen this before, and I find myself thinking about it over and over. When I saw her, I half wanted to run away and half wanted to pick her up. So I compromised, bent down, and looked closely. I was unable to get a photograph in time, but I have one in my head that I can go back and revisit when I'm feeling wolf spidery.
Of course this led me to want to read more about wolf spiders, and I found myself amazed by their eight eyes and by the mothers' devotion to their babies. When I sat to write, it makes complete sense that this is what I wrote. I can't stop thinking about it?
It is important to look at fascinating things when people invite you to do so. Even if you're not in the mood. Get up. Go look. Store away what you see in your mind. You might write about it someday.
If you would like read a little bit more about wolf spiders and see a photograph of a wolf spider mom with her babies, visit KidZone, and if you'd like to see even more photographs, there are many at Google Images.
Diane is hosting today's Poetry Friday party of summer here at Random Noodling. All are always welcome to this weekly celebration of poems and poets and words and friendship!
Please share a comment below if you wish.
What fun! I saw a huge number of spiderlings on a post about a month ago. I won't lie, it was a little creepy--but it was also fascinating!
ReplyDelete"It is important to look at fascinating things when people invite you to do so. Even if you're not in the mood. Get up. Go look. Store away what you see in your mind. You might write about it someday."
ReplyDeleteBest. Advice. Ever. I feel like I should print it out, not only for my classroom, but for right above my writing desk. Good reminder, and also I like this poem!
Ver sweet, Amy! Spiders fascinate me, but I've never seen one carrying its babies.
ReplyDeleteFascinating pictures, Amy. Wow. I didn't know that she carried them and cared for them. Love the poem, maybe the most that it's in the voice of the baby, that you imagined those feelings. Do you suppose?
ReplyDeleteFascinating!
ReplyDeleteWhat nature fun! I also enjoyed your interview (questioned by the chickens, not new, but new to me) at Keri Recommends.
ReplyDeleteA generous & thoughtful hubby lives there with you, Amy.
ReplyDeleteMy Paolo would do the same.
This poem makes brings me back to a memory of my mother calling me outside to watch
swarms red ants & black ants gather in our rock garden.
I wrote a poem about that & although it wasn't accepted for the anthology, I received a lovely letter
from one of the editors. I'd forgotten that poem from a decade ago & so a 2nd delight from this
post is my desire to go dig it up.
happy summer surprises to you!
Thanks for the reminder to look closely and be amazed by the world!
ReplyDeleteHow does the mother spider know when one has fallen off?! There are *so many*!! Thanks for making even spiders seem cute. :-)
ReplyDelete