The Shark

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.