Bashful
By Mike Swain
Though bashful of the limelight, in his present state exposed
His instinct for survival is to tread over my toes
He doesn’t mix in pleasantries, nor does he stir a laugh
Peering at me bleakly, he’s the spider in the bath.
Stripped of his defences, no safety wires or nets
Caught fast as he once captured others, sinking with regret
He has the hair of Amy Winehouse and the legs of Steffi Graf
Peering at me bleakly, he’s the spider in the bath.
Seeking liberation from incessant heated rain
His only bid for freedom is a nosedive down the drain
He shakes a leg, or three, or six, to illustrate his wrath
“So long soapy suckers!” he’s the spider in the bath
A floater, not a swimmer,
He strikes out towards a glimmer
Of false hope around the bend
Will this tunnel never end?
His furry body battered he relinquishes his grip
On hope and on reality, his feet begin to slip
For one against the water is unfathomable math
And so the shy are sure to die like spiders in the bath
I was born in Nottingham, England, 43 years ago, as an only child to two fabulous teachers. My father was actually a mechanic by trade, who became a technology teacher - he is a very practical sort, and the apple fell quite far from the tree there. My mother was a history and primary teacher all her working life.
I was raised as an evangelical Christian, which is where I probably developed my fascination with the wretched vs the divine concepts. I went to a Christian school, the Kings School, Nottingham (which no longer exists), before escaping to the world of secular education to attend Bilborough college to take English Lit, Theatre and Communication studies, before moving to Derby to take a degree in Performing Arts (With theatre and creative writing).
I also met my wife Hannah in Derby, and we moved down to Staines when we got married. We now reside in Newbury Uk with our two children, Chloe (11) and Charlie (8). I work as an actor and writer and currently I am based with Knightsbridge Productions working our of 4 Kingdoms Adventure Park where we create themed and immersive events and performances.