Ode To A Grasshopper Poem by Larry Lynn

Your stillness still belies existence
camouflaged by grasses brown and green
red fallen leaves wherein withal you hide between
unmoving but your hundred eyes
intent on no surprise

Folded wings laid back on crusted shell
lie ready arching poised set to propel
from hiding place escape route
rainbow arc from shrouded covert bastion
wings spread to hug the sky and back to hell

Like trinity creator of all extant life
your troika segments align unequal parts
from instinct B head, to powered visceral cave
your thorax to the spiracles on walls
and wings to abdomen attached.

Your palps and mandibles mount as your figurehead
beneath antennae searching in the breeze
for movements, sounds, an enemy
while readied props stand armed and cocked
to thrust you airborne, refuge: leap and hop ahead.

In silence you survive on leaves
your pedestals and shoots your nourishment
your compound eyes dual vigils scanning through the light
ever wary, cautious, predators on the prowl
seeking your untimely end.

They marvel all who watch you fly
from pulps and jaws of certain death
and leap across hot desert=s breadth
and rocky alpine mountains high.
thus honor you on golden road
with this your Saltamontes ode.