I walk upon the earth I pretend that I own it, I see an army of ants attacking a Mantis, I watch it accept defeat, it is silent in its prayer, it is crippled in its faith, my empathy is tested, I whisper to its god, give it a quick death! but its god does not listen it is slow and torturous, I hold my breath as the Mantis weeps. I see the last leaf fall from a winter Wisteria it is naked and boney, it has become ugly in its nature … Clay.M