I once lived in a rental garden flat
cohabited with
garden worms
scorpions
and
spiders
Garden worms came and went
through the wet walls
minding their own business
Scorpions were kept out of my flat
by the lavender shrubs I planted
could’t label them as intruders
The itsy winzy spiders though
I had a gentlemen’s agreement with
They stayed at the four corners of the ceiling
free to spin webs and catch their prey
mosquitoes, flies and clothes moths
to my delight
In exchange
they would never
receive a mist of lethal spray
The spiders and I had a deal
and it was a win-win
for both of us
Flicker of Thoughts 