Mummy is a praying mantis
her head bowed, her hands clasped,
her knees bent.
From dusk to dawn
in her position, humble
she sees only the things below.
I want to raise her up
and make her stand straight
and tell her to look up
to the heavenly skies.
I want to tell her that down there
crawls the little creatures
who want her humiliation,
and up there is her creator
who wants her humility.
Mummy is too yielded now
shaped like the praying mantis
her head abidingly bowed
her hands abidingly clasped
her knees abidingly bent.
I could try to raise her upright
and say
leave the crawling creatures
who demand your humiliation
and raise your head to the heavenly skies
for your creator who delights
in your humility;
but I would break her.
Birgitta Heikka
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/mummy-the-praying-mantis/
