Upon A Spider Catching A Fly

In this poem by Edward Taylor, a puritan in the 1600's, he talks about sinners and saved people. He represents the devil as a spider that spins alluring, intricate webs that trap petty sinners in a life of torment and pain. He states that he carefully lets the wasp, the saved one, escape that way the saved one will not ruin his perfect web. Furthermore, the fly caught by his leg, who is barely into the web of lies from the spider, is killed quickly to prevent his escape. He tells us that the spider (the devil) wants to entrap all of the human race, all of Adam and Eve's offspring, and lead them into the magnificent swirls of his web. The only one who can save them is God, and if you repent, he can save you. I find this poem very beautiful and it really spoke to me even though I'm not very religious. I hope you enjoy it as well!

Upon a Spider Catching a Fly

BY EDWARD TAYLOR

Thou sorrow, venom Elfe

Is this thy play,

To spin a web out of thyselfe

To Catch a Fly?

For Why?

I saw a pettish wasp

Fall foule therein:

Whom yet thy Whorle pins did not clasp

Lest he should fling

His sting.

But as affraid, remote

Didst stand hereat,

And with thy little fingers stroke

And gently tap

His back.

Thus gently him didst treate

Lest he should pet,

And in a froppish, aspish heate

Should greatly fret

Thy net.

Whereas the silly Fly

Caught by its leg

Thou by the throate tookst hastily

And 'hinde the head

Bite Dead.

This goes to pot, that not

Nature doth call.

Strive not above what strength hath got,

Lest in the brawle

Thou fall.

This Frey seems thus to us

Hells Spider gets

His intrails spun to whip Cords thus

And wove to nets

And sets.

To tangle Adams race

In's stratigems

To their Destructions, spoil'd, made base

By venom things,

Damn'd Sins.

But mighty, Gracious Lord

Communicate

Thy Grace to breake the Cord, afford

Us Glorys Gate

And State.

We'l Nightingaile sing like

When pearcht on high

In Glories Cage, thy glory, bright,

And thankfully,

For joy.

"Fighting the monsters within, killing them with love."

-2012; Me

-Thorn ♥