The night dragged on in stifling stillness.
Light faded and dim stars
Smudged the gloom.
A distant flash of lighthouse
And silken glitter of the gibbous moon;
Graunching monotone of engine drove
Tediously on.
Then flash, beside our creamy trail
A stronger, urgent, more penetrating
Stream of wake and phosphorescent glory.
A fin revealing leap, then surging spectral on…
A second joined
Haloed forms in gleaming rush
Two dolphin wraiths streaked past, then more
Till six were gathered at our bow;
Exultant fleet, emerge from darkness
Blazing vapour trails of phosphorescent white,
Out powering us to join the bow wave group
In sleek formation plaiting milky foam,
Then rising, gloss black mortal flesh
Revealed a second; tail sharp blade against the plume
Then speeding on,
Ghostly edged with brighter dorsal streak,
Peeling off into darkness.
Tail churning glow
Flashing far behind.
…Brief pulpit leaning loneliness,
Then reappearing,
Exuberant from the black nihilistic calm
To play below me once again.
What company! What unexpected joy
In perfect energy and form
Outbidding us.
