I dreamed last night
about a room I was not allowed into
I could see through the window a bed.
From within the bed
a spider emerged,
black and hairy,
moving fast.
…and then they all came.
The spiders rushed
out of every part of the bed,
they seemed to know
where they were going –
towards a hole in the wall
on the other side of the room,
to a place I could not see.
They tumbled through
the hole, so fast, so sure of themselves.
When I awoke from this dream
I felt scared, my heart was pounding
and then I thought of you
and Michelle, I laughed with joy
and felt, when we first met,
how your fingers scrambled up my back
and I jumped, turned around
and saw your happy face,
your wry smile.
before we even knew each other
you shared what you love
you gave your gift to me
thank you for trusting me
thank you for our phone conversations
in the early days
thank you for inviting me
to your birthday parties,
for welcoming me into your garden.
Thank you, Michelle,
I will always watch the spiders,
watch them weave their webs
and remember to love them,
and not to be afraid.
by: Sophie Yendole. September 2024