A Jelly-Fish by Marianne Moore

One Poem Only · Jun 10, 2025 · 1m

A Jelly-Fish

Marianne Moore 1887 – 1972

Visible, invisible,

A fluctuating charm,

An amber-colored amethyst

Inhabits it; your arm

Approaches, and

It opens and

It closes;

You have meant

To catch it,

And it shrivels;

You abandon

Your intent—

It opens, and it

Closes and you

Reach for it—

The blue

Surrounding it

Grows cloudy, and

It floats away

From you.

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