—Matthew Fontaine Maury, Maritime Conference
Held at Brussels, Devising a Uniform System of
Meteorological Observations at Sea: August and
September, 1853: and Explanations and Sailing
Directions to Accompany the Wind and Current
Charts, 1858

The sea is very wide. The tooth of running
Water is very sharp. And why have not
The currents of the sea worn away its bottom?

Note the direction of the winds which bring the rain.
Note anything that is particular about rainbows.
Draw up a bucket of water anywhere.

With regard to hail, describe the stones,
And any peculiarity connected with the snow-flakes.
Enter also sea-weed, driftwood…shooting stars…

Tide-rips at sea…showers of dust
And red fogs…Aurora Borealis…
Waterspouts…the height and velocity of waves.

If the water which now lies on the floor
Of the deep sea has to lie there forever,
Why was it made fluid instead of solid?

Mention the time when the dew commences to fall.
Do not the clouds, night and day, now
Present themselves to us in a new light?