[Note: The following poem is not about the Praying Mantis; it is about the species who manufactured the metal rail that the Mantis is walking across.]
Bipedal
Hairy
Tends to dominate other species
Some act with great order and understanding while many are indifferent and uncaring
Often fights other imaginary sub-groups of its own kind
Takes far more — in terms of the domain of other species — than its fair share
Overpopulates its own kind over the entire planet
Covers life-areas with dead concrete
Feels intelligent and superior (while it — all along — ruins the planet)
Most do not realize that they are not separate from the world as a whole
Some are very caring, considerate, and compassionate
Mentally feeds on symbols and images rather than reality
Often uses others for profit
Often blindly follows/obeys power-hungry tyrants in high positions
Some fire projectiles from held devices to put holes in other species or in others of their own kind… rendering them lifeless
Some warmheartedly stay local, recycle, use alternative energy, and actually help nature and others of their own kind
Others hypocritically claim to love nature while they often needlessly fly for long distances in aircraft that spew out deadly fossil fuels in vast quantities
Most foolishly think that their species is separate from other species
Some refrain from harming multitudinous species who highly value their own existence
Some have real empathy while others are mere thinking/reacting machines
Most abandoned life in the trees and woodlands to become the obedient working slaves of others
Only an extremely small number have been visited by that sacred, eternal energy that is beyond the realm of standard causality and rigid boundaries
Many believe in a dominating super-organism who — up above — happens to be a tail-free ape like themselves
Most subscribe to the very primitive notion that the observer is separate from the observed
A small few exist beyond the shared madness
Shadow of Mantis in the World of Man (1) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2017
Shadow of Mantis in the World of Man (2) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2017
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
Do you know Galway Kinnell’s “The Porcupine”?
“In character he resembles us in seven ways: he alchemizes by moonlight, he shits on the run, he uses his tail for climbing, he chuckles softly to himself when scared, he’s overcrowded if there’s more than one of him per five acres, his eyes have their own inner redness.”
It was Googled and read after having read your quote from it. 🙂
I once lived in Perth, Ontario, Canada, in a very rural area. The people i stayed with had a large dog that would constantly attack and bite wild porcupines, getting a painful barrage of quills in his mouth each and every time. The dog never learned. He kept getting painful quills over time (over and over again). Most people are like that in many ways. They do things habitually and don’t see the real danger.
Sadly, an accurate description of our species.
Lovely photo 🙂
Yes, unfortunately, it likely is pretty accurate. You, Scifi, love dogs, and so do i. Read what i replied to Michael, up above. Many humans are just like that dog (in not going beyond real danger).
I’m surprised the dog never learnt – most dogs would have – whereas most humans I realise, do Not learn.
For that dog, the power of predation and the thrill of the hunt surpassed everything else.
Great poem and so very descriptive of the human species. Chances are that the Mantis will still be around long after man has destroyed himself..
Well, your perception of the distant future may be quite accurate, Francis! Scientists have said that cockroaches will likely survive for many millions of years past the realm of humans; mantises arose (evolved) from cockroaches and are in the cockroach family!
Beautiful mantis Tom! I have never seen one! 🙂
Thank you, Marcela! I’m sure that there are some in your area! 🙂
Well said.
We hope so! 🙂
So much difference from one species to another