Mandarin Moon

Rippling Alaskan waves on the sea
seem to wave back at this mandarin moon;
The whales down below us must envy me,
for they cannot see this strange night-time noon;
And as I turn to the stern of the ship,
lavender shades from a sun not yet set-
black is upon us, yet blue will not slip
from a twin sky I will never forget;
A bright, orange carpet rolls out on the tide,
out to our ship anchored here in this cove;
A carpet of blue to our starboard side-
the sun above Icy Straight never dove;
Icy Straight day blends with Pinta Cove night-
how those whales envy my Alaskan sight