The Spider holds a Silver Ball

The Spider holds a Silver Ball
In unperceived Hands —
And dancing softly to Himself
His Yarn of Pearl — unwinds —

He plies from Nought to Nought —
In unsubstantial Trade —
Supplants our Tapestries with His —
In half the period —

An Hour to rear supreme
His Continents of Light —
Then dangle from the Housewife’s Broom —
His Boundaries — forgot —

Emily Dickinson

Spider’s ephemeral masterpiece

The Spider holds a Silver Ball
In invisibly quick Hands —
And unwinds His Yarn of Pearl
Dancing softly to Himself —

He works from Nothing to Nothing
In hidden Custom —
And replaces our Tapestries with His —
In the half time —

In an Hour He completes
His Continents of Light—
But which dangle from the Housewife’s Broom —
His Boundaries are forgotten —