Photo of spider in Garden of number 18.
Photo by Mr. G.
Thank you for those who took the time to respond to the blog about the spiders in the Lake District.
It was lovely to get responses.
As I visited the web in my garden I marvelled at what might be called Industrial artistry.
You can just make out the intricate and beautiful web she is making. I then remembered a poem I
wrote about another spider, which made its appearance at a concert in Paris.
I was there as a ‘groupie’ to the Felicitas Choir of Essex. The particular concert took place at the church of
St Germain des prés and as the voices soared, I noticed the spider working itself down from heady heights,
to hover over the sopranos. It was obviously an appreciator of music because it was clearly entranced by
human voices in harmony, weaving song from a gossamer score.
Here’s the poem.
A Spider listens to a concert.
Down came the Spider
Abseiling intrepidly,
hanging by its own thread,
precariously from the church roof.
It stops; hovering over music ascending
from collective voices.
Sounds made by practiced singers.
“Look, a Spider”, a soprano points out
between pieces.
but the Concert builds to its
final crescendo.
Hearts of all soar with joy’
As the music fades and
the concert ends,
the Spider is gone.
Not just a Spider at all, but perhaps
an Angel, now taking up the music to heaven,
for God to enjoy!
[Mr G .28.September 2026]
