# Allowables by Nikki Giovanni > I killed a spider > Not a murderous brown recluse > Nor even a black widow > And if the truth were told this > Was 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 # Mercy ## after Nikki Giovanni by Rudy Francisco > She asks me to kill the spider. > Instead I get the most > peaceful weapons I can find. > > I take a cup and a napkin. > I catch the spider, put it outside, > and watch it walk away. > > If I am ever caught in the wrong place > at the wrong time, just being alive > and not bothering anyone, > > I hope I am greeted > with the same kind > of mercy.