A Spider’s Web of Cries

I am terrifying. 

I am disgusting. 

I am ugly. 

But I don’t try to be; 

I try my best to be soft and welcoming. 

But no matter what I do, no matter where I go, 

Their looks of judgment and disgust always seem to follow. 

My poison may be deadly, but I don’t like to use it. 

My bite may be painful and ugly, but I won’t bite unless bitten. 

You won’t get trapped in my web, because I don’t want to trap you. 

I don’t enjoy hurting others, but others hurt me. 

If I hit back when hit and attack when attacked, 

Then that means I’m violent, it means I’m a monster. 

People run away from my voice; they run away from my looks; they run away from me. 

They are scared of me, yet they’ve never considered that I might be more scared of them. 

I could be the kindest soul they’ve ever met, but because I am a spider, 

They will always treat me the same. 

They are scared of diversity, of creatures unlike themselves. 

So, I pray one day, they might treat me the same.