A Tiny Black Spider Comments

A story is a piece of fiction, and fiction means a shaping, something molded, and that means the hand of a human being, not the Hand of Fate, operating in some distant dimension, hidden and inaccessible, but a human hand writing words at a desk, or typing in a PC at the kitchen table. - - - - - - - - - -I was totally engrossed in this story- - - The act of human hand in tandem with heart and spirit in making the story so that our human kind will benefit, really sweeps me off my feet.Absolutely wonderful poem.

I recall reading this and having become teary. I did again this time. Perhaps unseen acts of benevolence, no matter how small, are appreciated by the cosmos, but the reward is internal. A spider is no less beautiful, special and worthy as a butterfly. if our fellow men could extend that thought to each other, we could truly be proud of our species.

~Marvelous! ! ! 3 days well spent, Daniel. I don't often do this, but I would ask you to read my poem titled: Spider In My Sink.

By the edge of shiny pond with green winter in nice weather spider shines with wisdom in this poem as part of gain in life. Goutama's silence for long time teaches many more things here. Beautiful composition and nice sharing make this poem special and worthy.

Enjoyed the poem very much. Cleaning with my broom I have done that often and then think why am I doing this? Most of the time my efforts are a failure. Still I do it. I guess saving a life gives a better feeling then killing.

At first I was intimidated by the length of the poem, but at the end found it so rewarding! The opening itself is arresting- Ashna sitting 'in a coil of deep thought'! Like any devout Buddhist monk, Ashna sat in meditation, but suddenly his eyes opened to suffering at the sight of a spider drowning in water and he was deeply agitated as with Gautama, (that is why he left his palace to ease the suffering of his people) Ashna's distraction or agitation leading to the saving of the spider is deemed by the prophet as an act of deliverance! The poet says this is just a story! He believes in the power of stories to capture minds quickly! Even Jesus taught through parables! In the second part, the scene changes to a spa where the poet himself undertakes to save a tiny spider. But it turns out to be a'fool's errand' as the spider is already dead! If Ashna put the spider on a banana leaf, the poet eased the spider on Leaves of Grass! I don't think this is accidental, but a clever strategy of the poet to club together oriental philosophy and occidental thought! Both Buddha and Whitman believed that individual's role is much more important than the dictates of fate.Both exalted the role of mind and spirit! The poem highlights the thought that compassion should spring from deep within and should be extended to even a miniscule of life! Two Great souls and the philosophies of two ages are beautifully blended together! A profound write! !

a delightful read, my dear. you seem to have a deep philosophical sense. beautiful composition and craft-fully written. thanks for having your take on poems. i enjoyed reading this poem and hope others would like it as well.