Praying Mantis

PRAYING MANTIS

He looks like he's praying

But most likely he is not.

The name’s assigned by humans

To permit a creature, unrelenting fierce,

To have some redeeming feature;

Or people would squish them without mercy.

And the mantis, like the rest of us,

Might not get too far on prayer alone.

What would a mantis pray for anyway?

Beauty, perhaps.

But praying for beauty is not really legit.

He might pray for his bread

Or forgiveness of sin.

Yet capturing dinner any way he can,

Doesn't seem a worthy assignment of sin!

So forget about the praying

And take a different view.

The mantis carries his skinny frame like art!

His shape leans well into dance and pose,

And yet allows a lightning strike

Gaining theatre and dinner

In a single second.

Ann Melby Shenkle, August 2o19

Doylestown, Pa.