When I was a small child
while sentences were still new
and each day offered something previously unexplored
I stepped upon a spider.

I felt the crunching of its body
as its legs became detached,
a chilling feeling crept upon my spine
as the extent of the damage I had done was revealed.

I silently wept myself to sleep
and for many nights after that,
my failed attempts at resurrection
only added to my guilt.

We had a quiet service
where I spoke some words
of this misplaced spider
and his fallen world.

Now the chilling feeling creeps upon my spine
when my empathy is vacant
and I can all but care,
that feelings crawls around me
clinging to my skin
a sickening reminder
of sweet children's care.