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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SEALS IN PENOBSCOT BAY, by KAREN SWENSON Poet's Biography
First Line: The seals dive in the sun-dimpled bay
Last Line: Closest to the meaning of our awe.
Subject(s): Happiness; Seals (animals); Joy; Delight
First Line: The seals dive in the sun-dimpled bay
Last Line: Closest to the meaning of our awe.
Subject(s): Happiness; Seals (animals); Joy; Delight
The seals dive in the sun-dimpled bay
disappearing into clarity
and we sit silent in the aluminum boat
as bird-watchers waiting for a call
to reappear among leaves.
Invisible to our patience, what we name
"joy" supples beneath the wave
feathers silence in the leaves.
Like rain-slicked seedpods
the seals lie on the tide-mumbled rocks
and we are still in our silver shell
as Christmas Eve children
in awe of the thing whose meaning
is tacit in not touching
as in touching we come
closest to the meaning of our awe.
Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!
Other Poems of Interest...
THE STUDY OF HAPPINESS by KENNETH KOCH
SO MUCH HAPPINESS by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE
CROWD CONDITIONS by JOHN ASHBERY
I WILL NOT BE CLAIMED by MARVIN BELL
THE BOOK OF THE DEAD MAN (#21): 1. ABOUT THE DEAD MAN'S HAPPINESS by MARVIN BELL