This week, this heat has brought
out little spiders; strange because

they usually come in from the cold,
and living near a lake in winter

things do come: the rats that
nested in the wall for months,

growing complacent as
my landlord. These spiders

aren’t much for huddling,
are zebra-striped acrobats

abseiling from the ceiling,
ready to jump, to hunt.

Maybe it’s a subtle predatory
bias that led me to trap

the rats but let these
spiders run free,

appreciating their
bold gestures,

their willingness
to move out into

the open.