Ants Discover a Pink World, by Jackie Langetieg

In the Pink, by Lorette C. Luzajic (Canada) 2021. Click image for artist site.

​Ants Discover a Pink World

City streets and high-rises are hidden
in the colour of peonies just poking their heads
from their green jackets.

Jumping from bud to bloom takes less time
than the husky black ants who are checking 
them out for future travels.

The blossoms open their petals to accept
their visitor, exuding a sweet elixir and he sends
to the rest of the colony through pheromones.

Pheromones appear to others as black bubbles
of scent leading them to the food they desire.
Myths lead one to believe that ants open the buds.

Give them a good upside down shake before
bringing them in the house, the ants will soon
find another fragrant peony bud to satisfy them.

Jackie Langetieg

Jackie Langetieg has published poems in literary magazines: Verse Wisconsin, Ekphrastic Review, Bramble Blue Heron Review. She’s won awards, such as WWA’s Jade Ring contest, Bards Chair, and Wisconsin Academy Poem of the Year. She is a regular contributor to the Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar. She has written five books of poems,  most recently, Letter to My Daughter and a memoir, Filling the Cracks with Gold.