Sharpening the weapons...

A wonderful photograph, clicked by S. Karthikeyan, (known to all as Karthik), in his garden. Karthik has been an avid follower, photographer, chronicler, and published author on wildlife in general and specifically related to Karnataka. Read more about him here.

He spied upon this green mantis in his garden and photographed her , possibly getting ready for the day.  For some reason, the attitude of the mantis makes it look like she is praying.  And folks call her the Praying mantis. Read his post here.

Actually, like in politics , things can be misleading.  Turns out that these lady mantises can be fairly liberated in attitude.    Read on..... 

(photograph by Karthikeyan Srinivasan)

Lady green mantis,
dainty on a
bush,
sharpening and cleaning
her secret weapon,
after a decent
workout,
catching and killing stuff
by grabbing with the legs .

At one time,
the saviour of the
organic farmers,
in fields
beset with insects,
attitudes
and life
have changed
in a fertilizer world.

Times have changed,
life is dangerous,
and unlike
the so called
evolved bipeds
who purport
to rule the world,
but still suffer,
the lady mantis
thinks nothing
of biting off the head
of a male
who
is pestering her.

Excuse me
while I clean
and sharpen
the other leg……