Dear Ben Langhinrichs ,

I had to read through a few times and google a few things about praying manti? Manteses? to truly, fully appreciate the effort it took to create this genius sonnet, "Ladies of the Dance" . I don't want to google anymore! Anyway, it gave me a fuller appreciation of the third verse, when matched by the first and second verses that are summarized nicely by the couplet at the end of your 'Shakespearean Sonnet.'

I wish I had the will (and discipline) to write in meter again (a sloppy, hack of a free verse writer), so I am in awe of anyone who accomplishes this feat. You do it with such striking imagery and emotion, connecting the reader with the lightening bug, whippoorwill and the two big green bugs who court and one gets beheaded (yecchh, what kind of life is that? TRANSFORMATION!).

It's sort of sneaky the way you word that final four line verse, because I forget this about their mating ritual. It felt dark for an outcome, but as far as nature goes, it's how it goes. the 'pas des deux' is brilliant! Color me jealous, because as a mating ritual here it adds beauty to an otherwise morbid scene. Such irony and contrast in those lines that gives the read such a rich flabor. Impressed.

I was awestruck with the way you depict these scenes that carry a lot of weight with the imagery to reveal nature's rituals. I have to wonder about the final two lines, which to me read just as you say, like 'sorrow' about the dance. An argument can be made that none of these creatures have emotions. That they are just going through the motions. Yet, as a pet owner, I do know that animals can have feelings. Is it reserved for the more intelligent species?

Anyway, I'm likely reading too much into the commentary on the bottom lines. In fact, the reader connects to these feelings, relates from their own experience. In fact, we can personify, if anything else. And that is what makes this poem so good.

It was a pleasure to read and comment,

Brian



My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .