Upon a News Item

--in memory of Howard Nemerov

The waltz of the water at this depth. they say, is both faint
and unbelievably graceful, and the chandelier in the main ballroom
of the Titanic swings even now a little from time to time
surrounded by sands and fins swirling fast or slow.
There is precious crystal lying about in the sand
and musical instruments float in the air. Mahogany steps
still lead down to impenetrable staterooms, to darker still
little rooms that are lifeless or doubly engulfing inside.
The blinding light of the mechanical sub shows them not knowing
how to flee. They have made a most accidental moment their home.
Their endless living is actually crowned in darkness.

Here one finally knows moments of some victorious song
blinded in green: the place of diamonds and grand dinners.
One wishes to find nothing altered here. So why the dread?
That all this was destined to be raised shrinking to our lights.

First published in "The New Yorker"