Daddy Long Legs. Comical poem by Angela Lansbury.

 

A fluttering noise gave me a fright

Noise signals something isn't right

Came into our kitchen last night

Something attracted by the light

Insects don't respond to your tears

I have over my many years

Found how to conquer silly fears

You can run, but I choose to be near

You can talk though it doesn't hear

Say, 'Don't be afraid of me, dear

The one thing which you need to know

Is why I opened the nearby window

'I did it hoping you would go

But I'm still taking photos of you

You don't do what I want you to

You do not seem to have a clue

'Go back the way you got inside

Or join others who died inside

How come that you do not know

Your escape is through the window?

'I even opened up the door

Your biggest danger is the floor

Where accidents likely catch you

With a blow or blind accident shoe.'

All my life I looked the other way

Until I researched them today

If only they and I could speak

Alas they only live one week

That Daddy seeks a Mummy mate

I hope that it is not too late

Before it meets its fated fate

And crosses Daddy Long Legs' gate

What use is it to the universe?

It wasn't born to help my verse!

It's eaten by birds, bats or frogs 

I wouldn't feed it to your dogs

It seems to have some legs to spare

As thin as all my shedding hair

It sheds a leg, though never taught

A quick defence so it's not caught

So if you try to grab a leg

That crane fly will shed its leg

And simply pull and fly away

And live to dance another day.

-ends-