We are now just seven days away from the start of the March Madness Poetry 2014 tournament! Today I reveal #7 on my list of Top Ten Favorite Poems of #MMPoetry 2013 — a killer poem written by Buffy Silverman:
4-decent
Prayer of the Praying Mantis
By Buffy Silverman
I fold my arms. I kneel in prayer.
I’m hidden by my leafy lair.
I spy a tremor, tiny shake,
creeping closer, quiver quake.
I focus raptly on my prize,
ten thousand lenses in my eyes.
My costume hides me, in plain view;
my dinner nears my holy pew.
I raise my arms and pray my prey
will find my altar, come to stay.
With patience of a saintly priest–
a decent chap–I bless my feast.
She’s almost here, another stride,
will bring my banquet to my side.
And now at last, she’s reached my trap.
I sway my head, and then… I snap!
I’m still amazed that this was written in under 36 hours — #MMPoetry authletes don’t mess around!
Click here to see this poem as it originally appeared in #MMPoetry 2013.
