Unlike Robert the Bruce,

I feel no sense of accomplishment when watching the industry

of the spider as it spins its fine silken dance at the bottom

edge of my library window.

I sit there watching it recreate the try

and try again routine in the vain hope of catching the elusive

as each morning I brush away the web

but never seeing the many fold truth of its endeavours.

I am not inspired by its work,

quite the opposite, for I feel it puts me to shame