The spider
knows the window
          screen he picks

his way
          across is nowhere
he could live.

          These cables
(clearly strung
          by someone

extraordinarily
          able) hold
no hunger,

          no tremble,
no spit,
          no give.

No gnat
          or midge, though
sure to

          stop
short at this
          grid, would ever

feel that sticky
          bouncy
webbiness

          that gets
the killing
          done.

The legs that climb
          these lines
divine

          how a brilliant
& distant
          & orderly

mind, by falling
          head over
spinnerets

          in love
with spinning,
          totally

forgot
          why webs
are spun.