Molly Frederick’s most recent poem to appear here was “Rules For Finding Feathers” (May 2016)

Summer Scene 
By Molly Frederick

 On the edge of a cherry wood table,
        perches a pale green
praying mantis.
Black-globed eyes, wedged face,
palpable body.
Light-glimpsing wings.
It takes a gentle hand to quickly
carry such an intricate body
(barely an inch long)
through two solid doors,
then out to the natural day,
to place it among a birch tree’s
many thin, hearts-as-coins leaves.
Adding one more living leaf
alive on summer’s comely branches.
Through it all, the mantis never ceases
praying for safe passage, for its life—
to the one who lives beyond numbers,
size, and space.
And all thoughts of time.