Can Spiders Fly Poem by Della Hodgson James

Can a spider fly?  
Now I wonder why. 
If not. How do they get so very high?  
And swing their webs, from tree to tree,  
So high, that the nature eye can't see,  
--Yet, doubt do we.
Can a spider fly?  
It makes me sigh!  
That miraculous web, up in the sky. 
While heavenly laden with the dew
It's plainly visible to me and you,  
--But is it true?

Can a spider fly?  
If you would but try,  
To explain to us the reason why
They sail about, in the morning breeze,  
On a gauzy web, with perfect ease. 
--And it was no dream.

Can a spider fly?  
Well, away up high,  
Floating along, between earth and sky
In a marvelous boat, of silver and lace
A large spider sat, with ease and grace. 
--Sure going some place.

Can a spider fly?  
Perhaps I'll never know why,  
Or understand, though I try and try. 
What severed his moorings? Perhaps he blew,  
What kept him up there? He stayed, it's true. 
--And that spider flew.

Oh! Where was he going?  
Or had he been sent?  
He was sailing as one,  
On some urgent mission bent. 
--Seemingly content.

Higher! Higher! He rose!  
And little lightning like gleams,  
Shooting this way, and that way,  
From his small boat it seemed;  
--But by what means?

The children, and I watched him,  
In awe and delight. 
As he sailed over the tree tops,  
And out of sight. 
Still flying? Right!