Cliff by Ofelia ferch Rhos

Cliff by Ofelia ferch Rhos

Author: Maggie Devers September 27, 2025 Duration: 2:19

Cliff

Ofelia ferch Rhos

Salt spattered on chalk carves out
the rough-hewn shape of thought:
the cliff is a canvas where

they escape me, and become
mammoths on sandstone,
scattered by stick-figured spears.

Magpies perch listless as dew
and wing their words over the sea.
The water ripples their birdsong agon.

Clouds crowd in anticipation-
I am the heavens surrogate on earth
they would rapture me, and leave

the cliff empty as a forgotten age.
The stones know no different.
I am their occupying army.

I kick the stones,
kick the moss,
kick the cliff loose

so that landslipped rocks
chase down the incline.
The waves retreat-

capricious tide.
Arrogant as weeds.
Pretentious petrichor.

Dappled sun on dimpled sea
reaches over the horizon
like the old joke.

More from Ofelia ferch Rhos ↓


Mentioned in this episode:

Write After: National Poetry Month with One Poem Only

Write After is a way to encourage poets to listen and write, and use National Poetry Month to highlight how listening to poetry makes us better poets. I know I write the best when I’m surrounded by beautiful poetry–it’s part of the reason I created this podcast, and I want to encourage others to share this practice. We'll get started in April. You can share to #WriteAfterOPO.

#WriteAfterOPO


Each day, One Poem Only offers a brief, deliberate pause. Hosted by Maggie Devers, this podcast is built on a simple, consistent premise: a single poem, read aloud, without analysis or introduction. It’s an audio space where the words themselves are the event, a performance meant to be absorbed in the few minutes it takes to hear it. The daily rhythm of the show creates a quiet ritual, a point of reflection woven into a busy life. You might hear a classic sonnet, a piece of modern free verse, or a work from a poet you’ve never encountered. The selection is varied, touching on themes from the natural world to the intricacies of human emotion, always leaving room for your own interpretation. The effect is cumulative; listening regularly becomes a subtle form of education in the sound and scope of poetry, and a small act of self-care. This isn't a lecture or a book club, but a performing art delivered directly to your ears. Maggie’s clear, thoughtful readings provide the only framework needed, allowing each poem to stand entirely on its own. The curtain falls, and the moment passes, but the podcast invites you to return tomorrow when a new piece takes center stage, offering another quiet moment, one poem only.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 355

One Poem Only
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