At Great Pond br the sun, rising, br scrapes his orange breast br on the thick pines, br and down tumble br a few orange feathers into br the dark water. br On the far shore br a white bird is standing br like a white candle --- br or a man, in the distance, br in the clasp of some meditation --- br while all around me the lilies br are breaking open again br from the black cave br of the night. br Later, I will consider br what I have seen --- br what it could signify --- br what words of adoration I might br make of it, and to do this br I will go indoors to my desk --- br I will sit in my chair --- br I will look back br into the lost morning br in which I am moving, now, br like a swimmer, br so smoothly, br so peacefully, br I am almost the lily --- br almost the bird vanishing over the water br on its sleeves of night.