mantis magic

the twisted chimney sculpture outside
the fort worth museum of modern art
was packed with schholchildren in uniforms
packed tight as cigarettes
howling at the top of their lungs like banshees
the bent echoes resonating in the unearthly light
of the hurricane's vanguard -

cloud tendrils smashing cloud tendrils
trees moshing like madmen
leaves and paper and branches and
away they go

clinging to the limestone of the museum wall
an autumnal mantis disguised as a brown leaf
sways and swirls and sings her song
her mantis magic -

the banshee wail of the children in the tall steel
a crack of lightning like a broken cymbal
a dancing sufi master
as small as my thumb