that opening is the greatest I've read in a long time, it sounds like
Ted Hughes at his best. attributing traits like knowledge to something
as categorically faceless as a spider is always a joy, but not always
a well-executed one. this is a stunner.
there's a real disgust in the dankly maternal imagery of the belly,
it's grotesque in the extreme but in such a minimal way. "the teeth of
love" is utterfly descriptive.
"sitting alone" is good, the sitter is ambiguous. "she arrived,
rearing" is *terrifying*! I shivered, then grinned at "...and I was
not surprised". a rearing spider is tiny, after all.

the repetition of the end reminds me of Plath (Hughes & Plath in one
email, hoo ha), there's the same poised, tragically evil tone.

you reaffirm my opinion of your talent with each poem Caleb.

KS

On 11/04/07, Caleb Cluff <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> The Spider
>
> after Paula Rego
>
> The spider is sudden, like a vowel. Her knowledge of longing is
> complete.
> The great grey fur of her belly is warm as new day,
> her mouth beset with the teeth of love.
>
> I waited for her, sitting alone. She arrived, rearing, and I was not
> surprised.
> She came as an old friend might - penetrative, stabbing -
> but her fingers were soft. Talk to me, lover. Tell me your fears.
> In the night I will bring you globules of silk
>
> and you will know. Your bedhead is stone, you say.
> But you are a child, and will imagine such things.
> I will give you my last skin to wear, to wear, to wear.
>
> Caleb Cluff
> Majorca 11/4/07
>
>
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