Invitation — Gwyneth H. C. Dawes

INVITATION

come into my parlour,
said the spider
to the fly;
never mind the cobwebs,
just come in and don’t
be shy;
find a wealth of gourmet
to suit your palate’s
choice;
let not my smile deter you
or the silence of the noise
face it —this is heaven,
leave the air’s thick fog,
and rest;
enter my conditioned net
to bask in
delicatesse

come into my parlour,
said the spider
to the fly;
I release no more than
poison of
the adder’s tongue
at least
your comfort will be
unique
and your diamond eyes
will bulge
at the sparkle of
my weave —
that strangles truth
and love

come into my parlour,
said the spider
to the fly;
outside you live to life;
in here you die

Gwyneth H. C. Dawes

EDITOR’S NOTE

First published in Nigeria Magazine on 1 January 1987. This archival presentation preserves the poem and its original attribution for contemporary readers.

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