The Distance of the Moon

by Italo Calvino

There was always a flight of tiny creatures
– little crabs, squid, and even some weeds,
light and filmy, and coral plants –
that broke from the sea and ended up on the Moon,
hanging down from that lime-white ceiling,
or else they stayed in midair,
a phosphorescent swarm we had to drive off,
waving banana leaves at them.”

(La distanza della Luna – Le Cosmicomiche, Italo Calvino)