Doris Voss Dasenbrock

The Spider and the Fly Doris Voss Dasenbrock

This rhyming nature poem story centers on a spider that worries about where to best to build her web. She chooses a site and is rewarded with a guest-victim fly that becomes trapped in her web. She later catches a mosquito which she eats for a quick meal. She is a curious, inquiring spider, and to satisfy her curiosity, she generously takes pity on the fly and bargains to release him if he will tell her the three things flies most like to do. The fly makes a silent vow if released and the spider must honor her word to release him if he complies with her request, although she becomes furious at his revelations. The consequences of making choices are reviewed. Spider and fly facts are given at the end of the tale.