Consider the Spider

Consider the spider
Which,
In its own way,
Considers its place
In a life
That is all too brief,
Even for a spider.

But in a response to
Its natural instincts,
Its urgent demands,
Its heretofore proven expectations,
The spider
Summons all that is necessary
For the task at hand
From within itself,
And trails out a single filament
Upon which it descends
With a practiced confidence,
It would seem,
Until it is suspended
Above the abyss
Which would consume it
Should all that has thus far proved expeditious
Suddenly fail.