Isolation, it is a fear more acute than
a room full of spiders,
for they at least
might be behind glass, snarling
away, venom rising,
wanting to taste your flesh; but they do it
only because they are hungry, not evil,
you are prey, not ridicule, as the first bite
goes deep into your skin
and the feeling of paralysis
comes over you in waves,
at least you know it is not out of hate.
Ian D. Hall 2017