BLACK WIDOW

This isn't Christmas, Toto.  Just a bit of nature.  What do you see?  Dewell

BLACK WIDOW

She encases her ebony body
in a gossamer wrap, concealing
a scarlet birthmark.

He mounts the web, seeking her---
his small heart pounding
as he tangles in the mesh.

Four endless nights they shake
the strong, sticky lacework
snagging and shredding the edges.

On the fifth day she closes her eyes,
curls bruised legs under her hourglass---
his time has run out.

   -Dewell H. Byrd

Dewell

I vote to drop stanza one.  All in it is a repeat of the title.

Nice offering

Todd

I agree with Todd.  Dropping the first stanza and jumping to the action strengthens the poem tremendously.  

Four endless nights they shake ...

Gracious!  I love this steamy little drama.

Dewell, if you drop S 1, it can be read on two levels.

Karen's right, I think:  steamy.

I have no idea how you did this, but it works.

Dewell,  Good poem and as mentioned by others it can be read on different levels.  "His time had run out" was the icing on the cake. Knowing the background for the poem is often helpful, but not imperative.  Many of the kids nursery rhymes have deeper meaning for the times they were written which makes for an understanding if you read up on them, but we can still enjoy them today without the knowledge of their original meaning.  A very good poem.

Dennis