Saturday, March 21, 2009

Fly Gets the Upper Hand?

Kate at Kate Smudges in earth, paint and life...
gave me inspiration.
At least, I'm going to give her "credit!"
:-)

It's really not her fault that I chose to write about flies and spiders
instead of ants...

I've been outdoors working (Yea!),
but it was the little break I've been taking that resulted in this!

Enjoy!


Fly Gets the Upper Hand?

by me (yours truly)


“Oh! Come into my garden,” the fly said to the spider,

Once she was rendered helpless, the fly sat down beside her.


“I’d commandeered some friends of mine,” she very calmly stated.

“We think your sticky web to be quite highly overrated.”


The fly gazed towards her friends, the battery of whom was seated.

The wasps, grasshoppers, ants and moths seemed ne’er to be depleted

.

“There are others, don’t you know?” she said, “who felt the need to be here;

there’s safety in the numbers, with not a reason to feel fear.”


The spider looked her over with a blazing angry eye;

stating suddenly, with candor, this unexpected calm reply:


“I see you’ve planned quite thoroughly, the route to my demise,

but there’s something you’ve not thought about – a virtual surprise…


…you believe you’ve squarely tied me; with reason not to fear.

However, said the Spider, I’m quite virtually not here!”


Quickly making motions, imitating those of Houdini’s spare -

Our spider disappeared! Fly and her battery knew not where!


So please watch yourself and listen; cast a discriminating eye.

And don’t fall for the entreaty --- as posed by Spider to the fly!


So... where did Spider go? See below...


Click here for the "Real Story" by Mary Howitt


Before leaving the subject of Spider and Fly, you might want to check out this link. Can you solve this problem??
:-)

Happy Spring!


16 comments:

bobbie said...

"364 days until spring" indeed! You are too much!

Love the poems and pictures of course. And that link!...
No, of course I fell for it and guessed 41'. Good one!

kate smudges said...

Oh dear, it must have been the ant that inspired your spider and fly story. What a creative person you are! I thoroughly enjoyed your version. Now, as to the problem ~ well, I tried but got it wrong. Math was never my strong suit;))

Jan said...

Hi Shady, love the poem you shared with us--your personal illustrations really add 'spice'!! I hope you washed your hands immediately;-)

I looked at the 'solution' to fly&spider question and have to say, I never would have figured it out alone! Interesting answer, though.

Happy 2nd day of Spring...isn't it wonderful to see the signs?

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

It may be 364 days to the START of spring, but it's still spring for three months!!! I like insects and poetry, so good for you for covering both.

Gail said...

Shady, I thought for sure it was going to be a trick question...but then realized it was a math department! I did enjoy your version of the spider and fly~~Happy spring days to you and your garden visitors! gail

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Your pictures and poem go together perfectly. I love the poem/story.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Bobbie, That was an automatic counter that I uploaded. Now it's hiding until next Winter. :-) Thanks for trying everything!!

Kate, it doesn't take me to veer onto a tangent! ;-)

Hi Monica, Yea, Spring!!

Hi Gail, These photos were actually taken last Spring/Summer. But it was a glorious day outdoors today!! I got a LOT done. :-)

Hi Lisa, Thanks for the compliment. I'm glad you enjoyed the post!

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

Very cute! You are very talented!! Great pictures too. My brain was too tired to try the math problem, my daughter would probably be able to solve it though. I think I'll have her try it!

Shady Gardener said...

Catherine, I haven't even tried it yet! :-) Thanks for visiting.

Bob said...

Great poem. I just posted some shot of the Seattle Garden Show. Figured you would love to see them, Bob

Anonymous said...

tee hee Shady Gardener. You are always up to something fun. Glad it's warm enough for you to be out in the garden. Doesn't it feel good??

F Cameron said...

Cute post and great photos!
Cameron

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Bob! I'm glad you enjoyed the poem. :-) Yes, I'll be over asap (!) , but it won't be until later today.

Kathleen, :-) It was wonderful out there! I raked and raked and raked and hauled leaves by the tarpload to the ravine. I suspected it might rain, and it did!!

Hi Cameron, Thanks! :-)

Rosemary said...

Cute post.
Spring is so exciting, seeing all the flowers coming thru. The flys and spiders I don't mind missing!
Going to make that brown bread ,hopefully this week, looks so good.

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

That was fun! I'm glad you've been able to work in the garden, isn't it glorious?

Shady Gardener said...

Rosemary, Thanks. Yes it IS exciting. I'm about to start a post about yesterday's gardening endeavors. :-) Hope you like the bread!

MMD, Thanks to you, too! :-) It IS glorious!! How about you??