Praying Mantis

Praying Mantis

A slow controlled walk across the vast empty space 	
Each step controlled and purposeful
as was she
A solitary creature without distraction 
At one point stopping as if frozen in time
Not a hair on her head moved
Breathing barely visible
Long and slender limbs holding an arched frame
Her green suit blended in to the surroundings as if invisible
She had spotted her prey and watched him carefully
He was unaware of her presence
Oblivious to what she was planning
He turned ever so slightly
realizing she was there
and the mating ritual began
When finished and with the same effortless precision
she devoured him


Copyright © 2023 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved


Lisa from Tao Talk is hosting D'Verse tonight and has given us the prompt of living
things - animals, mammals, insects etc.

Factoid:

A praying mantis is not only carnivorous but a vast majority is also cannibalistic — meaning they will eat others (even of the same species) when they have the chance. So the general advice is to keep praying mantis solitary. They enjoy being on their own and most species don't tolerate any competition.