Come into my parlour

Come into my parlour

Said the housefly to the spider

“Isn’t that my line?”

The spider whispered

“Yes, I guess it is.”

Replied the fly,

“But I thought I would subvert

The established social order

I am a bit of a bugger that way.

Who says we should

Continue to reinforce prejudice

And stereotypical preconceptions

Of value and worth.”

“But it’s not just a matter

Of words and definitions.”

The spider countered.

“I can easily ensnare you

If I so choose.”

“Maybe so.” laughed the fly

“But that depends

Upon my lack of agency

And whether I want to submit to

Pre-conceived inter-species

Hierarchies.”

“These are not just issues of language

And metaphor

It's not a trope if I overpower and devour you.”

“Perhaps not.”

The fly sighed.

“But if I choose to ignore

Your webbish superiority,

Utilising my guile

And speed,

We are more evenly matched.

You do know what those cocky

Young Millipedes say about history.”

“What?”

“That was then and

This is now.

I think we should shelve

The hostility and poetic parallels

Keeping us at odds with one another

And be more respectful.

What say you?”