Analysis of The Mantis Warns



   By Chris Commodore©2020

Watch me as I so calmly kneel and pray,
    Hoping some Trusting Willy comes my way,
    My bread by wind or rain so comely all or some,
    Most trustingly on buzzing wings will come.

They’ll think to choose a flower fair and bright,
    And for a sip of nectar will alight.
    They’ll see just anthers clothed in yellow gold,
    But I their sad demise for sustenance behold.

So patiently with well-spiked folded hands,
    Just for to bless that gnat or fly that lands,
    Duped by my ever-wily praying gait.
    Most patiently, my pose I hold and wait.

Bright eyes disguised upon my duping head,
    I see them land, but I they don’t till dead.
    With calculated fast-as-lightning speed,
    My praying never fails me for my daily need.

And then I dine in style on quarry live;
    No need to drag or carry to a hive.
    If you judge me assassin rough and wild,
    Your parents taught you nothing while a child.

That’s just the way life sets its stage to play;
    That scene repeats itself day after day.
    You pray for them, but they will prey on you.
    Life’s circles turn that way no matter who.

Buy one my dear, and you’ll get one for free;
    A clever ruse to dupe those slow to see,
    Instead of one, that liar sold you two.
    Old trick discerned by just a savvy few.

So be alert for even those who pray.
    Please pray my friend, but don’t become the prey.
    There’s deceit hiding behind every talk;
    And traps and pits set everywhere you walk.


Scheme X AABB CCDD EEFF GGHH IIJJ AAKK LLKK AAMM
Poetic Form
Metre 1110 1111110101 1011010111 111111110111 11110111 1111010101 0101110101 111110101 111101110001 1100111101 1111111111 1111010101 1100111101 110101111 1111111111 110011101 110101111101 0111011101 1111110101 1111010101 1101110101 1101111111 1101011101 1111111111 1101111101 1111011111 0101111111 0111110111 1101110101 1101110111 1111110101 10110011001 010111011
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 1,562
Words 304
Sentences 17
Stanzas 9
Stanza Lengths 1, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 33
Letters per line (avg) 33
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 121
Words per stanza (avg) 29

About this poem

This poem is a social commentary on the ubiquitous practices of preying on unsuspecting victims -- by individuals and companies one would least suspect. The elderly are the most vulnerable, but everyone is at risk of being scammed by gross over charges, double payments and unconscionable rates from credit card companies, major department stores and the mega banks ... among others.

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Submitted by ti.min on January 27, 2024

1:31 min read
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