Spider 

I come from terrifying people 

With terrifying ways.

If I scare the hell out of you,

It’s in my DNA to do so.

Do you like spiders?

Do you like snakes?

Otherwise,

Stay away from me.

Don’t mess with me.

There are five stages of grief, you say?

My people know three:

Anger, anger, and revenge.

(Though, truly, the grief has no end.)

The men are warriors,

The women, slaves

Who were forced into treachery

And deceit as the only ways 

They found to survive.

I’m alive today

Because I learned 

From a very early age 

How to fight.

And don’t think I haven’t  seen.

Don’t think I don’t know

That he, or she, who lives by the sword

Dies by it, also.

But also don’t think

That I won’t go down swinging.

-jenn