Vol. I, No. 7: 2. Local Writing: "Spider Woman's Work," a poem by d. nazarawitz mortier

A hammer and a rose
held firm in woman's grasp

as she bows and bends
empress and beggar
before another day's list of tasks.

Distracted by a silken silver ring
spinning in the chaos
of the cellar's broken webs.

She keeps one eye
on the swirling mass
suspended in a damp corner,

as she couples garden hoses,
town water flows.

The floor boards above groan,
children stomping in the living rooms.

A tiny black-eyed spider
spins down into the chaotic universe

suspended from a huge oak
cellar beam.

On entangled edge,
she pulls a gossamer strand

from the center of her body,
silken feed to the whirling ring
suspended above.

Careful architect,
she spins and feeds
the silver lasso

quickly loosing patience
with the task.

The sylvan web abruptly halts,
hour's other chores call
dizzy flies hum, hover and buzz.

Form from within,
old alphabet letters present
as she hangs,
legs crinkled
beneath her fragile treasure.

From one bright spider eye
she peers up,
inspecting the audience intruding
on her dizzying ritual.

Without the sun
to mark her way,

this ancient one
lives out her solitary life,

collecting strands
from the broken universe,
spinning from her navel
a silver lattice
out into the chaos
of the hours

d. nazarawitz mortier lives and works in Bristol. She is a poet, a musician, and a mother of two. ...

Among other things, she has helped to organize a number of poetry readings & performances. Her work has also appeared in other publications, including the local -- The Five Town News -- as well as on the walls of various establishments throughout the valley.

If you'd like to submit a poem, short story or literary essay for possible publication, please e-mail us at books@downstreetmagazine.com. The e-mail should contain your name, address, and a phone number where we can reach you. You may also send a copy of your piece. The text can either be included in the body of the e-mail, or you can send it as an attachment in just about any word processing format. Please be sure to include any identifying information within the body of the work. ... If your piece is accepted, we will pay a small honorarium for your interest & your time. [See Freelancers Wanted for more details.]