GRADES OF PEARLY RADIANCE

I Love You

Treasury of Classic Nature Tales by Roger Caras

Excerpt from the short story The Twilight Seas by Sally Carrighar - she is describing a newborn whale.

“The Whale’s eyes were blue, the ocean’s color, and they looked out with a certain knowing expression seemingly conscious; but they were small in comparison to his size—they would never be larger than grapefruit. And they lacked the cones that would show him color. He never would see the changing hues in the sky and the reflection of these on water, never the sunrise, the lofty dome of noon or the splendor of the sun’s last light. The Whale would see them but only as grades of pearly radiance.”

PHOTO CREDIT: Chris Austin