Stephen Ratcliffe

2.23

line of palm trunk slanting up to the right against orange-
grey of sky in right foreground, top of still dark circular
tree across from it, sound of cars on freeway
                                                                     man on radio
claiming that "even in April the temperature in Iraq can get
into the hundreds," adding "and the mercury keeps on rising"

man across table noting that "holding to a story can often
create history," man in blue shirt thinking that he hears
it repeated, "and yet holding to a story creates history"

pink coming into line of low white clouds next to point,
surface of waning white moon in pale blue sky above it

<<