1 FEBRUARY 1952, Page 13

Grey Seals

GREY seals bob their heads out of the sea,

Stare with moon faces as the boat swims by Round heads, round eyes ; A dignified surprise, No effort to communicate with us, No enthusiasm and no fuss.

Half the boat's crew, recognising seals, Rush to the gunwhale, and the dinghy heels.

They gesticulate, And in all ways make Their human intelligence quite plain.

But the grey seals float, Uncaring, remote, And then to the depths sink down again.

HILDA SODEN.