Continuing Hallows theme through November 1st, we fall under the spell of this spider’s verse…
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ill you walk into my parlor?” said the spider to the fly;
“’Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy.
The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,
And I have many pretty things to show when you are there.”
“O 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;
Will 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 awhile, I’ll snugly tuck you in.”
“O 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 shall 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?”
“O 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’ll 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 be back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready to dine upon the fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing
“Come hither, hither, pretty fly, with the pearl and silver wing:
Your robes are green and purple; there’s a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the 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 drew
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 his 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.
— Mary Howitt, The Spider and the Fly: A Fable
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Care to share your own favorites of fall and the season’s Hallows? Share your most spooky stories, special beloved celebrations, how you and/or your family decorate your home—pics will be required! What about meals or snacks prepared and enjoyed, or better still what astonishing events of paranormal activity have you experienced personally or heard from a close, good (dignified) friend! You have until November 1st to remember them and comment throughout this Hallows theme.
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This work by Professor Taboo is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.professortaboo.com/contact-me/.
Alternate lesson: Learn to spout a smooth line of colorful and flattering bullshit, and it will never fail you.
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HAH! If you’re that talented — and your audience that stupid and gullible — it will get you into the White House or the pastor/minister of a mega evangelical organization or institution (e.g. the 700 Club), or mega-church that is as huge as a 150,000 capacity sports stadium! 😉
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Love this story.
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It’s fabulous isn’t it!? 😉
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Thank you for this challenge, Professor. Your choice of the deadline is spot-on timely this year in a particularly scareific way: The Day of All Hallow follows a Hallo ‘ween pall at midnight Green-Witch Very Mean Time: Brexit Boris — now known to be The Incredible Sulk — serving as master of scaremonies. 🙂
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Hahaha! 😄 Indeed Bill. It is an Autumn of many precarious, nefarious, and most contrarious times of world players and the rest of humanity that pays/sacrifices the most for THEIR (self-consumed?) mistakes, eh!? 😉
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Quite a planetary panoply on the world stage this Autumn. Looking forward to reading what visitors to the Convatorium bring to the pot-luck challenge —including, perhaps, my personal confabulations on what-if-this? or what-if-that?). 🙂
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Oh! And I just learned yesterday that at least in Texas this month of September is most likely going to break temperature records for the last 50-100(?) years of highs of 90° or above every single day of September! 😮 This is UNBELIEVABLE for Texas because in the past it has only been the month of August that hits 100’s and easily 90’s! But for 30 straight days, IN SEPTEMBER 😲 , has been unheard of! 😦
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Yikes!
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