Mercy

Once, we were grilling zucchini

from the garden. It was summertime

and I was about to leave you.

A praying mantis landed on the grill.

He was bright and beautiful

even as he fizzled and I burned

all my fingertips trying to save him.

You can't tell when an insect is in pain

but he must have been and you put him

in the grass so softly

where I found and stomped him.

And I think it surprised us

what we each defined as mercy.