Poetry Magazine
A Cave of Angelfish Huddle Against the Moon
Put an ear to the light at fall
of dark and you will hear
nothing. This pale luminescence
that drifts in upon them
makes a blue bole of their caves,
a scare of their scything
tails. They tell
in the bubbling dark of images
that come in upon them
when light spreads like an oil slick
and sea fans
that once were their refuge
turn away.
Now there is no dark
dark enough for their silver tails,
scatter of color
(like coins massively
piling in the lap of a miser)
that was, in the day, their pride.
How hugely here we belong.
This is their song
in the silting
drift of the reef.
They have never seen the moon
nor the black scut of night, stars
spread like plankton
in their beastly infinities.
Source: Poetry (November 2003).
MORE FROM THIS ISSUE
This poem originally appeared in the November 2003 issue of Poetry magazine
- November 2003 Table of Contents
- Subscribe to Poetry magazine
- About Poetry magazine
- This issue is sold out.
Poem Categorization
SUBJECT Nature, Stars, Planets, Heavens, Seas, Rivers, & Streams, Animals
Poetic Terms Alliteration, Imagery, Simile
If you disagree with this poem's categorization, make a suggestion.
Poem of the Day: A Cave of Angelfish Huddle Against the Moon
Your results will be limited to content that appeared in Poetry magazine.
