Saint Anthony of Padua Speaks to the Fish

First Place, Jane Greer Memorial Poetry Contest 2026

You think I came to the water’s edge

for my own sake—as if a man

who has misplaced his God would turn

to creatures who have never had

the problem, who have never known

the vertigo of choice.

You are attentive, which is more

than I can say for the learned men

who found my arguments too fine,

my fervor inconveniently warm.

You raise your heads. Exactly so.

The sea has schools for everything.

I do not know what I am saying

when I say the soul—I only know

it surfaces sometimes and sometimes

refuses to. Much like you.

The heretics have all gone home.

We have the afternoon. Stay

as long as you require. I will

preach nothing. Only stand here, listening.