Text of "Key West Aquarium"

Key West Aquarium: The Sawfish

Before our day, what had the sawfish seen—
His own snout's toothy, prehistoric blade? 
His own tank's sun and shade? . . .
Flat white lips of a ghost or libertine

Open and shut, as do the strenuous gills
Which even admit light. Bored in mid-swim,
He sees you—and a sunbeam fills
That frightful mouth. Now if I speak for him

A fellow captive, lips that kissed and told 
Declare me—well, almost— 
Not of this world, transparently a ghost

Into whom still the bright shaft glides. One old 
Disproven saw sinks out of mind; 
Love's but a dream and only death is kind.

First published in James Merrill: Collected Poems, ed J. D. McClatchy and Stephen Yenser. (NY: Knopf, 2001): 416-17.