Classic Poem

I WATCHED the giant ocean gathering
All that the sky contained, into its hand—
The moon, strayed feather from infinity's wing,
Clouds such as never move above the land;
Horizons dusked along its azure edge
Except where morning spared a silver wedge…
A spouting whale rolled into greatening day;
Abreast the ship, in swift metallic play
Like rapid horses almost parallel
Three simultaneous dolphins rose and fell.