This is my very favorite poem from childhood. My mom read it to me with such dramatic emphasis that I’ve never forgotten the first stanza – it’s been etched in my memory for over 30 years though I never actively sought to memorize it. Hope you enjoy it as well (and the moral that it teaches:-). Suggested by Jen Connelly
The Spider And The Fly
Mary Howitt
“Will you walk into my parlour?” said the spider to the fly.
Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy.
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I’ve a many curious things to show when you are there.”
“Oh, no, no,” said the little Fly, “to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair, can ne’er come down again.”
“I’m sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high.
Well you rest upon my little bed?” said the spider to the fly.
“There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest a while, I’ll snugly tuck you in!”
“Oh no, no,” said the little fly, “for I’ve often heard it said,
They never, never wake again who sleep upon your bed!”
Said the cunning spider to the fly: “Dear friend, what can I do
To prove the warm affection I’ve always felt for you?
I have within my pantry good store of all that’s nice;
I’m sure you’re very welcome – will you please to take a slice?”
“Oh no, no,” said the little fly; “kind sir, that cannot be:
I’ve heard what’s in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!”
“Sweet creature!” said the spider, “you’re witty and you’re wise;
How handsome are your gauzy wings; how brilliant are your eyes!
I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf;
If you’d step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself.”
“I thank you, gentle sir,” she said, “for what you’re pleased to say,
And, bidding you good morning now, I’ll call another day.”
The spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly fly would soon come back again:
So he wove a subtle web in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready to dine upon the fly;
Then came out to his door again and merrily did sing:
“Come hither, hither, pretty fly, with pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple; there’s a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!”
Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer grew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes and green and purple hue,
Thinking only of her crested head. Poor, foolish thing! at last
Up jumped the cunning spider, and fiercely held her fast;
He dragged her up his winding stair, into the dismal den -
Within his little parlor – but she ne’er came out again!
And now, dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words I pray you ne’er give heed;
Unto an evil counselor close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale of the spider and the fly.
I’ve often heard the first line to this poem but never had heard the rest. As a matter of fact, I didn’t even know it was a poem, let alone one so lengthy. Thank you for sharing.
This is the favorite poem of my 7yo. She finds any excuse to pull it back out. If we’re reading Diary of a Spider or Diary of a Fly, guess what else we read!
How funny – I was JUST thinking about this poem this very morning as I watched spider walk across my ceiling. My 2yo confuses flies (if they are not flying, of course) with spiders. I’m sure she will enoy this along with the older children. Thanks for these great resources for Poetry month.
My son enjoying reading this poem out loud when he was around 8 years old– He put in much dramatic emphasis and had a great time!
Never heard the entire poem, and for some reason (perhaps b/c it’s 1:38am!) the second time I read it through, my mind turned it into a musical! The spider seemed to sing it slowly in a low…tango type number. The fly by nature of it’s youth and “flightyness” sounded very staccato and more…cha-cha-cha. Either way, my mind played out the drama and it was quite engrossing. Thanks for sharing it with us!