Beyond thoughts use is the power of her beauty; for my soul is caught in the sight of her, and my heart in its turn.
Her eyes like long tapered leaves, like vessels sharply prowed, subtle in their weight and depth of cognizance- twin edged they gleam, and knowledge is in them.
And her voice! As the sounds of growing things and the cello's weaving her words are song and her song the symphony.
Like the stone rippling and a cat content, like the sweet bell when hearts are wearied.
Beauty!
For thou, and thou alone I contend.
This is an old piece I wrote after watching James and the Giant Peach. I was rather taken with the spider. It has though in the editing process taken on a form other than I intended. Instead of praising the beauty that is peculiar to its subject only, it has rather come to portray my concept of feminine beauty in general. Therefore the title, "Ode to a Spider" may not be the best fit. Ode to Beauty, perhaps. I leave it as it is, however, in tribute to the original.