The Whale

Out in the bay arose a whale;
And in a flash from surf to sight,
From far-off wave to steamer-rail,
A whale a millionth of its size
Was matrixed in a beam of light,
And wriggled nimbly through my eyes —
Then plunging wildly in my brain
Became enormous once again.

Somewhere a whale is still in motion,
Lashing an ocean in a motion;
He dives through breaker, brine and billow,
Locked in a skull upon my pillow.
How such a wondrous whale can be
Remains a mammoth mystery;
But I must let him splash and spout
Till deep sleep dries his image out.

From Boundaries