I was about to enter my house
from the garage when
a praying mantis landed on the wall
right beside the light switch and
looked up at me.

I haven’t seen one in so long
that it looked quite majestic and
even alien.

“Well, hello Mr. Mantis!” I said.
“How nice to see you here in my garage.”

‘Mr. Mantis’ quickly scrambled up to
my eye-level
leaned back to bring it’s torso up
and extended it’s arms and claws out
towards me to start slowly rotating them
like a boxer ready for the bell.

I realized that the pleasantries were over
as this long gangly green thing
wanted to have it out with me
right there and then.

“For fuck’s sake,” I sighed,

“not you too!”