Floodplane 1 | Page 49

Ars Poetica

by Amy Antongiovanni

From my desk, I watch hens peck and peck

til a worm forces its way up through damp earth.

A stellar jay perches, snaps its neck to and fro,

lets go his hold of the branch, and flies

as though he is worth something—

and I, too am small and blue with wings

practicing gratitude, patience, dreaming dangerous things.