【Garden Prayers】

         By Tian Chao Yu 

I walked to the garden 

to smell roses

saw a praying mantis 

on a purple rose called  “love songs"

Arms folded across his chest

he was praying, I wondered 

if he prayed to the same God

did he find any love wisdom smelling the roses?

Quietly, I left the garden 

let him enjoy moments of peace

maybe, a few soprano love songs

from the rose