Praying

Praying Mantis. Photo Courtesy of Jill Logan.

By Jill Logan. This story was collected as part of a 2023 open call for submissions. It is one of 17 stories that were selected to be published.

In Missoula, I was born and raised.
It's still where I spend my days.
I thought I knew all the flora and fauna.
And I was happy not to live in a sauna.
Then one day out of the blue
came an insect that was brand new.
It was huge and brown and seemed to say
"I think I'll just stand here and pray".
It has the right idea, I've come to realize -
helping our planet would be very wise.

—

Jill Logan lives in Missoula, Montana. She'd never seen a real live Praying Mantis because they have not lived in Missoula - until now.