Movement predatory in peripheral -
something lurking there behind the post,
some primeval green escapee
Kafkaesque.
Miniscule, just now emerged,
- perfect miniature of its future,
as is hatchling – so adulthood,
brutal appetite unmatched.
Standing vertical, threatening
eyes spread wide to measure me,
claws poised, head cocked slowly,
am I ‘friend’ or ‘foe’, or ‘food’?
‘Friend’ at last is decided
and the lurking one moves on.
Of these four I am fanatical,
the best of all insects in my view:
Lady Bug,
Stick Bug,
Dragon Fly -
and this green minutia which
just now has caught my eye;
so recently come forth, this infant
Praying Mantis.
When it shall come of age voracious,
it will assist me in the garden,
its ravenous predations my roses’ gain.
And I will watch so very spellbound
this skulking priest of insects
prey.
James Gagiikwe © 2008
|
Author notes
Kafkaesque: Franz Kafka: Austrian author and playwright; black humour and horror, weird stories.
Comments
-
Your excellent title
reeled me in! Franz Kafka predated Science Fiction in his nightmarish stories but probably opened the door. To include this weirdly constructed predatory insect as part of it at first made me wonder until seeing other levels of meaning here--benevolent, beneficial, bene except for the next meal, caught by stealth and lack of victim's perception. With reference to decision-making, there seems to be some indication of intelligence here, while more likely it is a matter of instinct.
Here the mantis hovers on the edge of metaphor. As a "perfect miniature of its future," what you have noted may be its incomplete metamorphosis: three life stages, omitting the larva in which most insects achieve their full size. Here it must still grow larger. (I need more research to be sure.)
For a metaphor to be a 'personification'--which includes human thought processes--it applies primarily to inanimate objects and conditions. A new term should be coined for living things not normally considered in that way.
[Incidentally, I note you use the hyphen as if it were a dash. The dash, which I use too, is made with a double-hyphen. Some software automatically prints them as one long one.]
I note all your four favourites at the end are insectivores. I add certain spiders to that list, and do not kill them--I just ignominiously toss them outdoors. The garden toad, frog and bat and numerous tweety-birds deserve space on that list too.
About "minutia" as if its plural were minutiae, may also be plural of ?minutium.?
Just a sec, I'll check my Latin dictionary. I found the adjective, minutus,minuta,minutum
small. The adverb, minutatim means bit by bit...
Better in English, Oxford has 'minutiae' plural only, 'small precise details'--for what it's worth. Nice try though!
When I saw a single comment only, I could not leave it that way. Call this "overkill!"
Enjoyed the poem greatly! Only once have I been blessed to find a patient one, full size, in my garden. Memorably! I did not know they came this far north.
Terry
language: 5, subject: 5, tone: 5, form: 5.
-
I love this poem
How very lucky you are to have observed this wonder in your garden. Beautifully and delicately described - "perfect miniature of its future". I had no idea.
"Am I friend or foe or food" Lovely, witty and succinct. "Priest of insect prey" Very clever.
I looked for any constructive comments but could find nothing I would wish to change.
I had a pet preying Mantis. He ate jelly off my lip at mealtimes and sat on my head as I did housework. He was rather like a little green dog. He only survived about a month.
Nevermind. Great poem!!
language: 5, rhythm: 5, subject: 5, tone: 5, form: 5.
Adding your comment:
