We board the bus
back to campus
my head against the window
soon after, we go.
Across the aisle
my phobia lies
inside a box
without any locks.
A clear cover
reveals the creature
on all eights
it sits and waits.
Its roguish owner
lifts the container
and with delight
places it in my sight.
I plead and beg
to not see its eight legs
yet he does not relent
and continues the torment.
Near me and him
sits another victim
his eyes grow wide
from sheer fright.
Though we implore
to not see it anymore
our cries go unheeded
no matter how we pleaded.
So we remain in horror
though the creature is in torpor
our wails of pure fear
music to the owner's ears.
The two of us cower
for hours and hours
from the arachnid
under the plastic lid.
At last our ride
stops and arrives
the two of us escape
from what we fear and hate.