Wide now with the tide out,
Darkening, sky pale, bright
Patches of water near,
Bright streaks of it far off
Over the fl ats. Bird-cries
On the water-shine,
Willet, Whimbrel, Godwit,
Feeding in a hurry,
Much back-and-forth movement,
Quarrel-cries. Curved bills, wings
Curlews glide in. Chitter
Of a Kingfi sher: low
Whir over the water
Shoreward, to a dark tree.
Heron, dusk-blue in dusk
By the marsh-edge, listens
Dead still in mid-stride.
Air ripples the distance,
Small boats drift, fi shermen
Hunched on the water-blaze.
Smoky red now; low lights
Along the north bay, more