The Breadcrumb Plate

Artic juncos, wintering here,
walk ‘round it cautiously;
nuthatches, like chickadees
and cheeky jays,
dive in unceremoniously,
wing away with a prize.

The flicker’s scarlet mark
holds brilliant against winter grays,
though humbled by
the allover glory of cardinals,
who elegantly ignore
the proffered plate.

Patricia Williams retired from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point after 27 years of teaching design and culture. She writes in a variety of genre and has had work published in both online and print journals in the U.S. and England. She lives in the countryside with her husband and is a member of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets.