Widow

I knew I loved her when
            she sprang
                        Athene from cobwebbed confusion

Long, lean, sleek black legs
            supple, strong, majestic
                        multi-jointed — all eight of them.

Black widow lover
            toxic
                        enticing
                                    inviting

She reels them in on sticky webs of desire
            in ephemeral pheromone haze
                        of possibilities and pleasures

                        cloaked in rage
                        draped in grief
                        shrouded and clouded with old
                                    old pain
                                    old conflict
                                    old endings.

I knew I loved her when
            she came to me
                        to smile and wait
                                    sinister sister

                                                to wait . . .
                                                              wait . . .
                                                                        wait  . . .
                                                                                    with me

Until I need her no longer.