Best Mantis Poems


I Saw a Praying Mantis

I saw a praying mantis as I went about my day
The brightest green, the coolest form
and I just had to say

“Please tell me of your prayer” He answered in his mantis style
“I pray my friends are happy
and they wear the nicest smile”

“I pray for those now hurting, filled with sadness in their heart
I pray for lonely people
who have not a place to start”

“I pray for all the homeless who are living on the street
I pray they find some shelter
and some food that they can eat”

“I pray for anybody who is in some need of prayer”
I listened to him carefully, 
so glad that he did share

Then thanked him for his answer for I now know this is true,
it seems that in my mind I’m praying
for the same things too
Categories: mantis, prayer,
Form: Rhyme

The Song of the Lonely Praying Mantis



~
Way out there in the meadow
where the wildflowers sing
Sat a lonely praying mantis,
such a funny looking thing

From within the petal'd choir
came a perfect summer song
So, he climbed upon a bluebell
and began to sing along

His voice, a lovely harmony,
now echoed on the breeze
To drift above the columbine, 
meander through the trees

The sound so mesmerizing,
whisper soft along the rim
As if, now Sunday morning,
with a most angelic hymn

When then he noticed something,
as his lyrics came out loud
It seems his morning ballad,
had attracted quite a crowd

He finished serenading, 
as he took a breath to pause,
To hear the other mantis,
clap a chorus of applause

From that day forth his singing,
was now heard about the land
Each meadow he did visit,
found that he was in demand

so, 

it seems this praying mantis,
with his fans who do adore
His prayers have all been answered,
he's not lonely anymore

~
Categories: mantis, song,
Form: Rhyme

Male Mantis Murder

Subtitled: WELL! You didn't have to bite my HEAD off...

Gladly would I die
for your love, my dear. No! Wait!
Just kidding! Just kid...
Categories: mantis, funny, insect, nature,
Form: Senryu

Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry


Premium Member Praying Mantis

Oh, praying mantis, there with majesty,
you hold your slender arms so still and sweet,
in prayer like form that somehow makes us see
a kind and gentle species when we greet.

Your odd, triangle face responds your way
by nodding side to side, as if you hear
and grasp the words we speak and so convey-
to be beside you does not carry fear.

But, in the world, you live- yet to survive
another side of you is seen, exists.
A murderer you are- eat your mate live;
your coupling ritual exhibits twists.

Your mate is lucky to have found a chance
to spread his genes, his only goal in life;
to offer up his body in this dance-
a trade-off for his offspring to be rife.

With head gone first, he still completes his act
depositing his precious sperm; when done
you throw him to the ground and after that
soon feed on him to nourish life begun.

Oh, praying mantis, there with majesty
you hold your slender arms as if in prayer. 
But looks so often can deceive, you see;
a murderer you are- his fate, unfair.


August 15, 2016

Contest: Insects
Sponsor: Angela Tune
Categories: mantis, betrayal, insect, life,
Form: Rhyme

Premium Member Mantra of a Mantis

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
© Lin Lane  Create an image from this poem.
Categories: mantis, insect, introspection,
Form: Rhyme

Premium Member Praying Mantis - For Contest

Praying Mantis

Patience – a virtue
silence in the sight of God
Grace – before meals


8/20/2016

submitted to – Praying Mantis – Poetry Contest
sponsor – Anthony Slausen
Categories: mantis, humor,
Form: Senryu


Premium Member Praying Mantis

My girl she can keep very still,
it's no major act of will,
and can hold a stare without her eyelids dropping,
with her arms held out and bent
you can't tell that her intent
is to quickly swipe my wallet and go shopping.
She hides her feelings to me
and I'm feelin' kinda gloomy
since I've only found out where it could have led,
she eats her partner after mating,
which is why I'm stopping dating,
until then we're gonna sleep in separate beds.


For contest 'Praying Mantis', sponsor Anthony Slausen
August 17th 2016
© Viv Wigley  Create an image from this poem.
Categories: mantis, insect,
Form: Rhyme

Premium Member Praying Mantis

Mantis
Verdant, skinny,
Praying, sneaking, planning
Insect, wife, insect, husband
Surviving, hoping, dying,
Fearful, easy,
Prey
Categories: mantis, animal,
Form: Diamante

Premium Member Praying Mantis

for what is it
she prays
motionless Madonna
rapt in stillness
awaiting the unexpected
mate or meal
slender neck
cleavaged eyes
pious predator
poised on spindle legs


©8/29/2018

for Personification Poem Poetry Contest
Categories: mantis, death, fate, life, love,
Form: Personification

Praying Mantis Haikus, Contest

Premenstrual syndrome
Gain discombobulation
Guys wisely worry
Categories: mantis, funny
Form: Haiku

Premium Member Praying Mantis Pet

Hello, I am a praying mantis from the tropics,
a killer really, once I bit off the head of my lover;
and then I ate him, yummy and then I was caught,
I ended up in a pet store until one day she bought me.
I am a strange pet for a girl to have and love,
but it is so, few people realize we make amazing pets;
no weirder than a rat or ferret or snake.
My species is known for courage and fearlessness,
in ancient times we were considered supernatural gods;
but I have no powers except my praying posture,
I like to be perfectly still with my for arms folded in prayer.
Usually my girl feeds me small insects she finds,
once when I was on a stroll I reached into her goldfish bowl;
and ate her goldfish, oh my, was she upset with me,
I like to grip her finger with my long legs.
One day I escaped into the garden, oh delight,
I ate a bunch of bugs by ambush and camouflage;
you see I am the master of disguise,
I can blend into the foliage and any background.
My girl found me when I was trying to resemble a flower,
she said I was a giveaway with my two bulging eyes;
(and three small ones) darn it anyways, almost had freedom,
but in truth I love my girl and the lovely nest she made for me.
She has made it look like my tropical homeland,
with a heater and plants on which I crawl and pray;
there is never a lack of bugs to eat and I do love the light above,
so yes I am an odd pet for a girl to love;
but she calls me beautiful and that makes my wings flutter,
and I go into my praying poise for her to praise . . . 
________________________
August 12, 2016

Poetry/Personification/Praying Mantis Pet
Copyright Protected, ID 16-817-962-0
All Rights Reserved.  Written under Pseudonym.
Categories: mantis, insect, nature, pets,
Form: Personification

Premium Member A Mantis' After-Dinner Prayer

prey of the day - frog
pleased mantis licks spiny hands. . . 
that was delicious
Categories: mantis, funny
Form: Senryu

Premium Member The Praying Mantis

A female praying mantis is so alluring, living in her island paradise -- a small swamp with so many wonderful plants and flowers around. The female mantis is being courted by so many males of different colors and sizes though she is bigger and heavier than most males.  One by one, during autumn or at any time in temperate regions, the males disappear after meeting the coveted one.

  One day, a new male was swinging under a leaf and was called by the praying mantis to go down.  The male one didn't respond as if he heard nothing.  The praying mantis was frustrated and went somewhere else.

  The next day, the same male mantis was seen by the praying mantis, calling him again.  The male one turned around and asked why the female one is calling him. The female said, "I like you.  Don't you find me attractive?..."

  The male one replied, "I like you, but I'm childish.  I am not fit for you."

  The female one was surprised hearing it and laughed.

  The male one invited the female one to walk for a while on the ground, shaded with extending low leaves and stems of plants.  While walking, the male one was caught by a spider web and can hardly extricate from the thick web.  The female one  said, "I wish I can help you, but that's the best position I like most so we can be together for a longer time."

  Unknown to the female one, the male one has friends in the area who are spiders.  The spider webs are traps for burglars and intruders in the area.  And the male one happens to be a friend of the leader of the spiders hiding everywhere encompassing the area where the male one was trapped.

  Many spiders instantly appeared in the scene, surrounding the two mantises.  

  The female one hissed, ""What's the meaning of this?... Is this a trap?!"

  The leader of the spiders said,  "Our friend is the one caught in the web.  You better run right now or we will clobber you!"

  "Why do I need to run?" asked the female one.

  The leader of the spiders replied, "We know that you eat all your lovers whenever you wish to mate with anyone of them.  And that is cannibalism!"

  The female one quivered, saying, "...I need to do it because it's a biological necessity."
Categories: mantis, autumn, funny love, insect,
Form: Prose

Premium Member The Cricket And The Mantis

Cricket, symbol of good luck
Chirping at night like duck

Mantis, jaunting and pray
Lobbying and munching a honey prey
Categories: mantis, insect,
Form: Couplet

Prayer of a Mantis

A leaf with big eyes
Prays God to protect creatures
From MAN with big shoes
Categories: mantis, nature
Form: Haiku
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