Brown Recluse Poem by Raj Dronamraju

They didn't get around to exorcising the dark corners, the hiding places
Wherein things that bite and sting make their home
An oversight or a deliberate failure
Their less than thorough cleaning leads to consequences

A small boy reaches for a toy under the bed
A mother sticks a hand in a cupboard without looking first
A father moves things around in a cluttered garage

Even though a stranger might in fact be someone you know
And leave a painful, burning imprint on children and family
There's a fog hanging heavy over any future familial gathering
Even though a person you know is more dangerous than a stranger

We didn't get around to exorcising the dark corners, the hiding places
I overlooked the birth of the future, the way it moves people according to popular custom
Instead, I'm tossing little ones around like rag dolls carelessly
Until slipping my foot into a shoe without a second thought, I unexpectedly feel a sharp bite or sting
This leads to a growing coldness from my leg to my torso to my chest to my head