Forgetting The Brown Recluse Spider

Gloomy, dark and wet were the ideal conditions for a Spiders Festive Party and our home was the gracious host to a throng of small tangling spiders in just about every corner of every room; particularly my sixteen year old son’s bedroom. To make matters worse my husband received an e-mail just the other day from a friend graphically showing the traumatic consequences of the Brown Spider’s bite. Well, need I say more?
So for the past few nights, my son insists on sleeping with the light on and for some peculiar reason these little spiders have become attached to his bedroom and keep coming back; maybe it’s the dark Egyptian green of his room that makes them think they’re in a dense forest or maybe just the security of their heavenly den aka Ty’s Bedroom. I think it has gotten the better of him and since he read that email his mind has wandered with horrid thoughts of what if that poor soul was bitten elsewhere-a more seriously vital area of his body? It’s obvious that it has occupied a good part of his mind these past days-I don’t blame him after all I too still have that picture vividly in my mind. I should explain that this picture he had seen showed a massive progressive deterioration of skin exposing the bare bone- it was quite an unbelievable disgusting horrid site in fact!
I thought it would be best to make light of the situation by finding humor in the spider affair. Of course how could one ever forget the whimsical tale of “The Spider and the Fly”- really not a silly story at all but with an important message to “Beware the Stranger”. A few years back I was enthralled to discover a reprint of the famous Mary Howitt poem in book form combined with the most beautiful detailed Victorian style pictures in black and white; fashioned to recreating a cinematic atmosphere of the Hollywood silent screen movie era. Artist Tony DiTerlizzi's illustrations for this 19th century poem were divine and if you were to make this poem into a film there be no question has to who would get the directors position. The illustrations were mesmerizing, captivating and almost as if each character in the poem spoke the words themselves. Whether or not the spider is evil in this poem the humor is evident in these illustrations and one can’t help but somehow find the spider somewhat delightfully charming and less frightful; hopefully eradicating the ugly picture one gets upon viewing the Recluse Brown Spider’s bite.
Maybe I’ll buy Ty this book just so he might forget but funny thing is my son’s nick name given to him by his aunt happens to be “Fly”; do you think - the little spiders, they too will forget????

~Annabelle~

The Spider and the Fly



Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly, 'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy; The way into my parlour is up a winding stair, And I've a many curious things to shew when you are there." Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain, For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."

"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high; Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly. "There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin, And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!" Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard it said, They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!"


Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, " Dear friend what can I do, To prove the warm affection I 've always felt for you? I have within my pantry, good store of all that's nice; I'm sure you're very welcome -- will you please to take a slice?" "Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind Sir, that cannot be, I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"

"Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise, How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes! I've a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf, If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself." "I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you 're pleased to say, And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day."

The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den, For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again: So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly, And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly. Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing, "Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing; Your robes are green and purple -- there's a crest upon your head; Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!"

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly, Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by; With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew, Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue -- Thinking only of her crested head -- poor foolish thing! At last, Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast. He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den, Within his little parlour -- but she ne'er came out again!

And now dear little children, who may this story read, To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed: Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye, And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.


~Mary Howitt 1821~