Allowables by Nikki Giovanni

Allowables

“I killed a spider
Not a murderous brown recluse
Nor even a black widow
And if the truth were told thisWas only a small
Sort of papery spider
Who should have run
When I picked up the book
But she didn’t
And she scared me
And I smashed her

I don’t think
I’m allowed

To kill something

Because I am

Frightened”

— Nikki Giovanni