Confronted by an ancient ichthus

[joel]

Confronted by an ancient ichthus: gar
within an estuary creekbed pool
where oolong water kissed against the waves
of undulated scallop shells (that more
than Ecce Homo time have known) and hid
Leviathan between its surfaced breaths
in camouflage of checkered leaf & sky.
I witnessed there the monster beast—and I
was, Yes, afraid and silent as if death’s
own mysteries had caught my wonder mid
an early mourn discovery where, for
the life of me, I stumbled on the graves
of thought unknowingly—but in the cool
it rose to me as gospels ended are.