Rarely does a poem break the internet, but “Ten Legs, Eight Broken,” a poignant ode to a dying spider, has captured hearts and headlines on TikTok, know the lyrics meaning and origin
The saga began earlier this June, sparking an unexpected empathy towards the eight-legged creatures that usually evoke fear.ย Want to get the full scoop on who penned “Ten Legs, Eight Broken” and the viral trend it inspired? Let’s delve deeper.
‘Ten Legs, Eight Broken’ spider poem lyrics meaning and origin as it goes viral on TikTok
The TikTok handle behind the viral sensation is @user68519586, also known as l, e. This content creator primarily shares poetic narratives via photo slideshows, suggesting aspirations to make a name in the world of poetry.
On June 11, 2023, the original slideshow featuring “Ten Legs, Eight Broken” was posted, which rapidly accumulated over 5 million plays and 1 million likes. This engagement propelled it to be one of the most played recent posts under the tune of Emile Mosseri’s “Jacob and the Stone.”
Ten Legs Eight Broken Poem Goes Viral On Social Media
by u/laughablepiles in Lakesstorm
Inside the ‘Ten Legs, Eight Broken’ poem
The poem, which has touched hearts and led to many emotional responses, begins with the narrator expressing fear and resentment towards a spider, a common intruder in our homes. The arachnid, despite being threatened, responds with an unexpected depth of perspective, shedding light on the human tendency to harm what we don’t understand.
To the spider,
the shadowed creature in the corner of the room
i hate you.
You scared me just as your brothers and sisters did before you,
and i will tell you what i told them,
You are a trespasser that does not belong here.
You entered without knocking.
Roamed freely like this is your home and decorated my walls with unwanted, silk webs without asking.
You may not be the only killer here, but only one of us is innocent,
and it’s not you.
The spider says to me, it’s brittle body squashed and dying,
It’s not you, either.
There is venom infused in my fang-shaped maws,
but i was born this way.
What’s your excuse?
If you could count your murders, how long would you be counting?
Am i really this threatening?
I thought human hearts were bigger that mine, but you have killed with malice instead of marrow of your bones and poison bubbling behind your scowl
And i’m sorry for scaring you,
but i didn’t know being seen would cost me my life.”
Ten Legs, Eight Broken continued
“Maybe
If you didn’t fabricate the prickly feeling of my legs creeping upon your skin while I crawled across the living room floor,
If the webs I weaved were made of cotton candy and captured clementines, cherries, and sweet peas rather than struggling wings and blood;
If i had a pink tongue, push fur, a wagging tail, and fur legs instead of eight
If i had only two eyes, and they were glittering stars and not supermassive block holes;
If i was the same but looked different;
maybe you wouldn’t hate me.
Maybe you wouldn’t have loved me, either, and maybe you still wouldn’t have let me stay,
but maybe you would’ve shown me the door or a window.
Maybe you would’ve shown me mercy.
(But you are still standing, and I am still sorry).
I think
maybe,
no matter how reluctant,
mercy would’ve been enough.
Exploring the TikTok trend around the ‘Spider Poem’
Following the viral success of “Ten Legs, Eight Broken,” TikTok has witnessed an outpouring of memes, reactions, and reinterpretations. Most of the content is tinged with melancholy, warning others of the deep emotions that the poem can stir.
There are also videos featuring people saving spiders in their homes, a comical counter-narrative to the poem’s original story. This wholesome trend underscores the enduring relevance of poetry, even in the digital age.
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