Mantra of a Mantis Premiere Contest Winner

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Have you ever seen 
a Praying Mantis green?
Or heard the tunes 
he enticingly croons,
searching each day 
for innocent prey?

Mantra of a Mantis:
"Eat or be eaten!"

In prayerful stance
he awaits the chance
to grab a bunch
of beetles for lunch.
Wearing camouflage,
enemies he'll dodge.

Mantra of a Mantis:
"Eat or be eaten!"

When it's time for mating
a female Mantis is hating
the little male on her back.
When it's over she'll attack.
Once he's spent, he's doomed
chewed up and consumed.

Mantra of a Mantis:
"Eat or be eaten!"

And if you look, you will find
that mankind's frame of mind
is the thought, 'Do unto others
even if they are your brothers."
Men conquer as if a game they play.
A Mantis slays only for food each day.

Too much blood has been spilled.
In this world it's been instilled...

Mantra of a Man:
"Kill or be killed"

_   _   _   _   _   _
15th August 2016

Copyright © | Year Posted 2016



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Date: 9/17/2016 6:37:00 PM
Many congrats on your top spot Lin - great to read this one again:-) hugs Jan xx
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Lin Lane
Date: 9/18/2016 5:27:00 AM
Hi ya, Jan. Thanks so very much... hugs back to ya!
Date: 9/17/2016 1:05:00 PM
Congrats on your 1st place. This is wonderful philosophy. :)
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Lin Lane
Date: 9/18/2016 5:27:00 AM
Thanks so much, Sunita.
Date: 9/17/2016 12:29:00 PM
Wow Lin, I missed reading this wonderful entry. Congratulations on winning the top spot in this short list. Awesome write! 7 ; )
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Lin Lane
Date: 9/18/2016 5:26:00 AM
You didn't miss a thing, Connie. You're here and I'm thanking you for the compliment. I'll return that compliment to you on your winning spot, as well.
Date: 9/17/2016 12:20:00 PM
Nicely doneLin. Congrats on the top spot.
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Lin Lane
Date: 9/18/2016 5:25:00 AM
Thank you very much, John.... and well done on your spot, too!
Date: 9/17/2016 12:13:00 PM
Congratulations! Great!
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Lane Avatar
Lin Lane
Date: 9/18/2016 5:24:00 AM
Thank you, Kim, and I'm returning the accolades to you for your win as well.
Date: 9/17/2016 11:42:00 AM
Congratulations on your Trophy First Place win, Lin! An amazing poem that images this 'killer' insect, but also with a lesson in the end! Well done! Hugs, Sandra
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Lin Lane
Date: 9/18/2016 5:24:00 AM
ah Thanks so much for such nice comments, Sandra. I congratulate you right back for your mantis win!
Date: 8/23/2016 9:05:00 AM
Very nice write Lin, I enjoyed the flow, and the repeated lines, and the moral in the end just great. Sorry I missed this one, nice to see you posting, hope there's more to come, you grace us with a quality, that is lacking, thanks for posting!
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Lin Lane
Date: 8/23/2016 9:09:00 AM
John, your words have always been very uplifting to me, so I thank you with humble gratitude for such kind compliments. Now it's my turn to tell you I'm sorry I missed out on your contest. I wrote one for you but wasn't around for a couple of days and then it was closed. I'll post it for you anyway. ;-)
Date: 8/20/2016 9:08:00 PM
Hi Lin! You've used a wonderful build up to your moral conclusion. You've chosen a great interpretation on the theme. A very nice write. Good to see you here.
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Lin Lane
Date: 8/21/2016 6:22:00 AM
Hi James. Thanks so much for liking this one and for taking the time to read and comment in detail. It's great to see you, too!
Date: 8/20/2016 6:21:00 PM
I love how you did your mantis poem, Lin. It's got a slight humor to it and the repeating line is awesome. I hope to see this one score HIGH.
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Lin Lane
Date: 8/21/2016 6:21:00 AM
Thank you for your comments, Andrea. You know I appreciate them.
Date: 8/16/2016 8:59:00 AM
Very good, Lin, good luck in the contest :-) Hugs Eve
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Lin Lane
Date: 8/16/2016 9:46:00 AM
Thank you so much, Eve. I was intrigued by the mantis poems and started writing, having no idea where it eventually led me. My hugs go back to you.
Date: 8/16/2016 4:41:00 AM
Good to see you stopping by for some more soup, Lin:) Lovely message in this great write..the last four lines are turning out truer in these last days..
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Lin Lane
Date: 8/16/2016 9:44:00 AM
Thanks, Jo. I'll take a few sips every now and then to have lunch with friends like you. Thank you for appreciating this one.
Date: 8/15/2016 11:22:00 PM
Dear Lady Lin...you've got to find a new boyfriend lol...nice to see you posting...excellently executed as always my dear lady...hopefully we can see more...god bless...^WW^
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Lin Lane
Date: 8/16/2016 9:43:00 AM
You make me laugh, dear one. I'm afraid that if I wanted to look for a boyfriend this poem would surely frighten them all away. Good thing I'm not looking.. ;-)....Thanks so much for reading me.
Date: 8/15/2016 4:29:00 PM
Hi Lin, a new poem left here and up to your usual excellent standard. Before i go on good luck in the contest. It is a sad message you lay before us. I liked the change at the finish to show the difference between animals and the human race. The moral in this one comes across clearly. It is good to see a poem of yours grace the soup once more. As i have already stated, best wishes for the contest. This has to be a seven and a fave. Hugs....Mike. XX
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Lin Lane
Date: 8/15/2016 5:12:00 PM
Hello, Mike. We have the power of reasoning but misuse it terribly. Thanks as ever for writing such great comments. See you soon with some lines.
Date: 8/15/2016 11:58:00 AM
It takes a wise poet to teach a lesson! Great job, Lin.
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Lin Lane
Date: 8/15/2016 12:34:00 PM
Hi Danny. Thanks for coming to see me and for keeping in touch. Your writes have been wonderful... Big Hugs!
Date: 8/15/2016 10:21:00 AM
Gives a whole new meaning to the term 'lady killers' Lin... just posted mine lol:-) good luck in the contest:-) hugs Jan xx
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Lin Lane
Date: 8/15/2016 11:05:00 AM
haha Jan. Thanks, and now I'm off to read yours.
Date: 8/15/2016 9:58:00 AM
The story of life, repeated at every level. Nicely written. GL
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Lin Lane
Date: 8/15/2016 11:03:00 AM
Hi, DMB. Thanks...nice to see you.
Date: 8/15/2016 9:57:00 AM
Very nice... Good luck in the contest...
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Lin Lane
Date: 8/15/2016 11:03:00 AM
Thanks, Supraja.
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