Just as God,
prior to letting out the universe,
explored with inner eye
the layout
of the pre-existent void,
so too the darting spider
takes the measure of corners
with mysterious tape
to their furthermost reaches,
like an architect spans space
with invisible soundings.
T he web
is spun with rigging stays;
a halo
with perfect gravitational centre
No angle is less than another.
Polygons are tremulous
in the void.
The spider
feels the spirit of place
in a room’s corner
or between two stakes
moulds a masterpiece:
a cradle, a trap.
The spider
equiparates and weighs
as God did
before designing the universe
and, the task accomplished,
on the seventh day rested.
And by way of a joke
on creation’s web
God
shed a dewdrop
like a shivering sun
reflecting
millions of worlds.