Requiem for a spider web

I've watched over the last few weeks
the large and lovely spiders
a pair of them
build perfect webs on my porch
suspended above the firewood.

I've seen sunlight glinting off them
and watched the fat-bodied builders sit off center,
waiting for dinner.

But in the night,
it can't be seen
and so when I lean
to gather wood
from the rack
I feel its silken brush
against my face

and think
'Oh no, I've ruined it!'
And in the morning
look to see
it perfect once again.

©E. Howe Oct 26 2003