It was the dark of dawn as we went there There was chill of bone and brisk of air And the pale glow of the sun Pulled us, in all speed, to come From the boat we heard that lonely call That carries wide and silences all There I sat with oar in hand As half of me fell away into sand Then freely and stealthily A great green moving muscle sleek Took hold the line and dove deep Down And I pulled And what I saw Id never seen What came to light the glowing green Heaving, breathing light I looked into its eye And suddenly as quick it came A flash, a gleam, a hungry dream The line went slack and we turned back To the shelter of the darkened pines
stealthily, pulled, heaving, brisk, oar