not twenty yards out, but deep cold now
a long swell that lifts and swings under
on the tamed beach everyone standing, pointing
faces round -- the wave rocks up over -- and there --
where the wave holds itself against the sun, black-clear
as an x-ray, and in it -- diagnosis --
sweep of shock, rough brush of flank,
flat flash of eye
___________
Minor poem, but true story: it was about 9 feet long and I think it was a nurse shark. (I hope it was a nurse shark.) Yes, have been back in the ocean since.
On the morning after, I've decided it's awful, not minor. But I'm bravely gonna leave it up anyway.