There is a famous tradition in Islam that when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) first fled from Mecca pursued by its angry residents he hid in a cave. That night a spider spun its webs across the Cave's entrance so when his pursuers got to the cave they were convinced not to search for him inside. Spider are still given special respect by Muslims.

The Fire and the Spider

From: Myths, Legends and Old Sayings, by Hastings Shade

Many, many years ago when the earth was still cold and dark, animals, birds and insects could still communicate but there was no fire. The Indians needed fire to stay warm and to cook with.

At this time, however there were a race of giants who had fire and were called The Fire People. All the animals got together and decided that they should get some fire from the Fire People. The bear went first since he was the strongest. He came back and told the other animals that he had indeed tried his best, but that he had been unable to get any fire. Just then, the animals heard a tiny voice, "Let me try," said the spider. They laughed and said, "You're too small."

But as each animal tried and returned with the sad news that they had failed, the spider's small voice was still heard saying, "Let me try". Finally she was the only one left, so they agreed to let her try. Spider fashioned a small clay pot with a lid on it and put it on her back as she started toward the fire. She would run a little ways and stop, run a little ways and stop. As she approached the fire, it began to grow light. When she finally reached the fire, she put a small ember into the clay pot.

Immediately the fire was missed by the Fire People. They looked all over for the missing fire. The spider would run a little ways and stop, run a little ways and stop, until she got right to the water's edge. The Fire People were almost on top of her, but they were afraid of the water, because they new it would put them out. Spider slipped into the water, so the Fire People figured that the fire she had stolen had been put out. So they went away thinking that their fire was safe. What they didn't know was that the ember had baked the clay pot to be water proof. So when the Fire People left, the spider came out of the water and brought the fire to the Indians. This is the Sacred Fire of the Cherokees.

Also the Great Spirit saw what she did and gave her the ability to live underwater. Today you know her as the Water Spider. She still carries a little pot on her back, but it is now called an egg sack.

A Noiseless Patient Spider

A NOISELESS, patient spider,
I mark'd, where, on a little promontory, it stood, isolated;
Mark'd how, to explore the vacant, vast surrounding,
It launch'd forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself;
Ever unreeling them--ever tirelessly speeding them.
And you, O my Soul, where you stand,
Surrounded, surrounded, in measureless oceans of space,
Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing,--seeking the spheres, to connect them;
Till the bridge you will need, be form'd--till the ductile anchor hold;
Till the gossamer thread you fling, catch somewhere, O my Soul.

Design

What had that flower to do with being white,
The wayside blue and innocent heal-all?
What brought the kindred spider to that height,
Then steered the white moth thither in the night?
What but design of darkness to appall?
If design govern in a thing so small.

-Robert Frost (1874-1963)

Incy Wincy Spider

Psychoanalysis of a Spider

Just observe him, the center of attraction
Confident of his prowess, shown by his action.
An unparalleled charisma, judging by the results
his prey, they come to him, their integrity he insults

Balenced upon a thread of life
his movements are sure, they bear no strife
having eight eyes, and eight legs, how bizarre!
He is the king of his realm, a self made Tzar.

When he meets with a yen to mate with a wench,
she paralyzes him, an action of stench
an eggsack, she places upon his chest
conscious he is of his sordid rest
This sack of eggs, they are her brood
to which he becomes their very first food
subject to such a greivious offence
I would too be filled, with vehemence

Of another life and death struggle, I dare to speak
To lose this one will result in the same, let's peak...

Hunting for food, a wasp attacks
sensing trouble, the spider reacts
The wasp strikes, parries and stings
"the result is waking death"
to the spider it sings.

A reflexive pounce
to the wasp's dismay
the spider bites in
with his celescerae
the venom disolving the wasp from within
becomes a liquid the spider drinks in
casting away the now empty shell
the spider pauses...
contemplating...
heaven... ...or hell...

Short Gaits with Three Spiders

slowly across driftwood tangles
I teeter like the comb-footed spider
using scantier limbs as I go
testing each, feeling for a snap

striding over cobbles and boulders
I touch the wolf spider's cautious
strides, as she makes short gaits
over algae slick pebbles and sand

like all three, I am moving
but like so many hatchlings today
I am moving slowly, trying my steps
uncertain, afraid to fall

Matt Welter (c) 1997

Spider, spider

I will catch a juicy fly,
Then I'll bake it in a pie!

The spider in the web

A song from the book "Spiders" by Creative Teaching Press.
It goes to the tune "The Farmer In The Dell".

The spider in the web,
The spider in the web,
Spin, spin, oh watch it spin.
The spider in the web.

The spider gets a fly,
The spider gets a fly,
Spin, spin, oh watch it spin.
The spider gets a fly.

The spider gets a ___________, (insert name of an insect)
The spider gets a ____________,
Spin, spin, oh watch it spin.
The spider gets a ____________.

Wolf Spider

Come climb upon my back
my red velvet grains of sand.
I wish you to adorn me
my sparkling raspberry brood.
You're my living fabrication
a bustle filigreed with shiny legs
clinging by your birth yolks.
I once carried all hundred of you
in a satchel spun of cotton.
It was a large aspirin
that I swallowed after you hatched.
You tickled me with your 800 teensy legs
crawling up my own.
Worry not, my tiny garnets,
if you fall off I'll rush back
and let you climb upon me
hind leg to abdomen.
Your plush seat awaits you
reserved upon this mother coach.
Hold tight, my wee beasties,
the time has come for feasting.
I spy a sand fly, tired and landing.
We become the wolf we are
and dash at our savory prey.