Many arms many legs crawled out from under the couch Grandma sat on while watching Real People with Leslie Uggams. She gone to heaven, I couldn't figure where many arms many legs came from. I maybe lookin' for maw-maw and distracted by the commercial, but many arms many legs kept movin'. With Mikey gone I got my eyes transfixed to the floor. Many arms Many legs turned and started comin' at me. I didn't know what to do. Up until that point I had only trapped spiders. This many arms many legs with a long body confounded me. I sat up on the couch to watch many arms many legs crawl the length of the room. I kept watch even when it eventually wandered under the brown skirting below where I sat. Shakin' out of my daze I finally jumped up. I thought he would crawl the inner armature to land on me in the middle of the night.
Cautiously, I prepared for bed. With one sheet strategically anchored around cushions, I assumed many arms many legs would not have a chance to creep though the couch. It will never make it though that barrier. I will be fine. The private drama made no sense. Mouths that small don't kill, so I thought. Me, so small, fearful of something smaller, foreign, and unfamiliar.
Secretly, I wanted to pick it up. I wanted to get a close look but the little voice inside said it was poisonous. That wouldn't do to get bit. The sun's down. Don't bother Granddad he's quiet in his room. He must be asleep. It'll crawl away. I am sure. You'll wake up tomorrow just fine. I curled up in the sheet and turned off the television with the remote control. Sleeping with little terrors doesn't happen often, but when it does I sleep the night through. This can't be wise, not wise, not wise at all.
At the foot of the bed a heap of many arms many legs crawl over each other. They undulate without a sound. These many armed many legged have longer bodies. Crawling onto the bed, I see they are formed at about a foot in length. Others stretch the height of the walls. The sighting is not concrete, but they remain in my eyes no matter what I pray. Spirit dictates something is trying to communicate. With many arms many legs crawling all around, whatever needs to be said has an urgency that has grown since childhood.
One book and internet research later, I try not to doubt. Many arms many legs is an obligation to preservation. This is the outlook for years to come. Many arms many legs goes into Shaman's Coin and Purse sketches without a doubt.
As ever, stay hungry and curious.