Head tilted to the right
The currawong waits , perched on the patio rail
next to the thin green tree.

Something within that shrub has roused him , and his yellow eye
carefully scans the branches.

Down to the base of the potted plant he drops ,
and works his way round the edge,
stopping at times to gaze up through the leaves.

The mantis , green camouflaged , is safe until it moves
and then the beak strikes hard and true .

Back on the railing the dark bird seems to pass
a moment of satisfied contemplation ,
then raises its claw to rend the slender body .

Just yesterday , I found on that same tree
a browner mantis , battered , wound about with spider web .
I took it and set it for the moment safe
in a shrub that stands on the other side of the house.

The question now remains .
How many other insects will its slashing legs
entrap and crush , to be devoured
before another currawong perhaps appears?