“November Till the Mantis Flies Away,” New Era, Aug. 1973, 24
November Till the Mantis Flies Away
Contest Winner
An undercurrent whisper in the wind
in model harmonies tells of magic,
witchcraft boiling somewhere in the oak
and cypress forest; and the fumes of spells
long aging in the wood will wisp and wander
in the breeze. The leaves turn yellow as
the magic passes smooth among them. Sooth!
Say sooth, my friend, and laugh into the witch-wind!
or its breath will waft the autumn into you.
November till the magic will be through,
November till the mantis flies away,
and snow will stop the fires, stop the fires.
Photo by Clarke Whitehead (contest winner)