It started on the first crescent after the new moon. Midnight’s soft nocturnal melody switched to a deep rhythmic bass. A young man noticed this and peeked out his bedroom window.

the moon’s subtle light
the pond’s rippling surface
someone is dancing
dramatic flares and freezes
on a stage made of water

Night after night, the young man watched the shadowy figure breaking across the pond. As the moonlight grew, so did the dancer’s passion.

brilliant quarter moon
bisects the shaded world
b-girl from beyond
breathtaking symmetry
brings me to the edge

Under the quarter moon, the shadow became a young woman. Her tall and slender frame held otherworldly symmetry. Beneath her ebony and gold newsboy cap, shoulder-length black gossamer hair swayed in sync with her movements. The young man became entranced and hid at the pond’s edge.

the moon’s perfect form
clouds circle in awe
passion/obsession
perfection’s charm drags the heart
down into the cold and dark

The young man crept closer, but lost his footing and sank into the pond.

darkness’s grip
cold and suffocating
another world calls
as the light grows distant
I long for a warm embrace

Suddenly, he heard a loud splash and the rushing of water, then the cool night air flowed across his body. A moment later, something warm pressed against his cheek. He opened his eyes to a starry sky and six beautiful eyes. His savior was a jorōgumo, a spider woman. The young man wanted to touch her, but every movement met resistance. A net of steel like webbing bound his body. She held his head in her hands and said, “I felt your eyes all over me.” A soft smile formed on her rosy lips. She carried him to a nearby tree and propped him up. In this position, the pond bared all.

The jorōgumo began to dance again. Her routine became elaborate and aggressive. Each night topped the last. She was improving. The young man’s eyes devoured her performances. Yet, as the new moon approached, her appearances decreased. In the end, she disappeared, and the night consumed his light and the moon.