Stephen Ratcliffe

10 poems from _T O D A Y_

6.16

light grey whiteness of fog against still shadowed ridge 2 quails landing by seeds on table below fence

here the one in one’s condition a question of form in the blue sentence reads next two in fourth letter

breathing in breathing out eyes opening crow calling from fence below window beside yellow and blue bed

grey whiteness of fog against shoulder of ridge line of 14 pelicans flapping to the left toward channel

6.17

light grey whiteness of fog against invisible ridge first quail landing by seeds on table next to fence

brilliant red swallowed by shadows the eye gives up set against green see figure stretched out in grass

breathing in eyes opening shadowed bird slanting to the right in window across from yellow and blue bed

grey white fog against top of shoulder of ridge line of white wave breaking on sand across from channel

6.18

blinding white sun rising in pale blue sky above ridge blue jay landing by seeds on table next to fence

looking toward the beginning perhaps able to see things first what could come might also be its arrival

breathing out eyes opening motion of sunlit green edges of leaves in window next to yellow and blue bed

white circle of sun above shoulder of ridge white lines of waves breaking onto sand across from channel

6.19

blinding white circle of sun in pale blue sky above ridge quail landing by seeds on table next to fence

places seen to cancel each other form a vanishing point a sequence of fields constant velocity of light

breathing in breathing out eyes closed opening birds chirping on branches in window yellow and blue bed

line of sunlight in pale blue sky next to shoulder of ridge pelicans flapping to the right toward point

6.20

white circle of sun in cloudless blue sky above ridge first quail landing by seeds on table below fence

variant elements divided by certain notes which follow from mixed on the other hand the volume of space

breathing in breathing out eyes slowly opening quail calling on bricks below window yellow and blue bed

blinding whiteness of sun above shoulder of ridge lines of pelicans flapping to the left toward channel

6.21

blinding whiteness of sun rising above plane of ridge two quails landing by seeds on table beside fence

following things almost in color one becomes position transformed some before objects for the most part

breathing in breathing out eyes closed opening sunlit green leaves in window beside yellow and blue bed

bright white circle of sun in pale blue sky beside shoulder of ridge 2 pelicans flapping toward channel

6.22

grey whiteness of fog against top of shadowed ridge first quail landing by seeds on table next to fence

thinking not of things but vision happening contour of form instead of substance of edge here and there

breathing out eyes slowly opening quail calling in field across from window next to yellow and blue bed

light grey white fog against shadowed shoulder of ridge lines of waves breaking on sand next to channel

6.23

light coming into fog against top of shadowed ridge three quails pecking up seeds on table beside fence

present more or less clear letters seen on paper inscribed in another hand part of place transferred to

breathing out eyes closed opening sound of crow calling from branch in window above yellow and blue bed

sunlit white edge of fog above shadowed shoulder of ridge line of wave breaking on sand next to channel

6.24

light grey whiteness of fog against top of shadowed ridge 2 crows landing by seeds on table below fence

another mirror each of the four here on its own separate rather mutual play one of four called presence

breathing in breathing out eyes opening shadowed green leaves on branches in window yellow and blue bed

sunlit white edge of fog next to black shoulder of ridge cormorant flapping to the right toward horizon

6.25

grey white fog against top of shadowed green ridge two blue jays landing by seeds on table beside fence

moment the object begins to be seen notice the attention shown evidence more than recognized phenomenon

breathing out eyes slowly opening motion of shadowed green leaves in window next to yellow and blue bed

light grey whiteness of fog against shoulder of ridge three pelicans flapping to the right toward point