booksartyoume

'mantis' timothy r gates, 10/06/2008

mantis
prophet
praying
mania
preying,
'come into my den,'
not found here
this prophet of religion
mantis religiosa
lives
consumes what's needed
nothing, no one else
necromancy dances with
Nostradamus
not an exponential war
not an implosion of wills
not an explosion of nation-speak
mantis
breathes
till finished
at mantis' repose,
another steps up
extends its frame,
with not even a, 'my turn.'
prays
living
smiles at our species
anthropomorphizing.