| Louis Untermeyer, ed. (1885–1977). Modern American Poetry. 1919. |
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| Max Eastman. 1883– |
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| 96. At the Aquarium |
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| SERENE the silver fishes glide, | |
| Stern-lipped, and pale, and wonder-eyed! | |
| As through the aged deeps of ocean, | |
| They glide with wan and wavy motion. | |
| They have no pathway where they go, | 5 |
| They flow like water to and fro, | |
| They watch with never-winking eyes, | |
| They watch with staring, cold surprise, | |
| The level people in the air, | |
| The people peering, peering there: | 10 |
| Who wander also to and fro, | |
| And know not why or where they go, | |
| Yet have a wonder in their eyes, | |
| Sometimes a pale and cold surprise. | |
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