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arts / alt.arts.poetry.comments / Praying Mantis

Praying Mantis

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Subject: Praying Mantis
From: blackpoo...@aol.com (Edward Rochester Esq.)
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by: Edward Rochester Esq - Tue, 29 Nov 2022 02:20 UTC

Praying Mantis

Watch them, they waver
with a slight pulse-beat before the strike,
then grabbing their prey
the victim becomes confused with an inhalation of incense
from a brass urn hung on a chain
never knowing the real chain resides below
the pulpit, where screams are drowned out
by the tape looped organ music of redemption.

Satisfied, the Mantis retires to chambers,
his victim, removing the stained youthful frock
of black and white, searches for a rifle;
at Saturday confession a blast will cut through the mesh,
separating strength from the weak,
a dangling gold cross will fail to stop the brass response;
incense becoming the smell of gunpowder
filling steeple and sanctuary.

“Forgive me father for I have sinned”,
he whispers to no one, for no one was listening.

Edward Rochester Esq.

Subject	Author
Praying Mantis	Edward Rochester Esq.