Ever since 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea when I was a kid, these creatures have fascinated me. And why not? They're real sea monsters, legends that live and swim in the same ocean I've swam in. (Figuratively, of course--I've never been to New Zealand.)
Over the past few years, there've been a rash of squid stories. In September 2004, a live giant squid was photographed for the first time.
Then, in December 2006, a live giant squid was filmed for the first time.
Then, earlier this month, a large squid with glowing arms was caught on video.
And (speaking of weird squids) a new species was filmed in December 2001: a squid with slender identical tentacles and wing-like fins. Videos can be found here.
So, in honor of all this squidiness, here's a bit of Tennyson!
THE KRAKEN
Below the thunders of the upper deep;
Far far beneath in the abysmal sea,
His ancient, dreamless, uninvaded sleep
The Kraken sleepeth: faintest sunlights flee
About his shadowy sides; above him swell
Huge sponges of millennial growth and height;
And far away into the sickly light,
From many a wondrous grot and secret cell
Unnumber'd and enormous polypi
Winnow with giant arms the slumbering green.
There hath he lain for ages, and will lie
Battening upon huge seaworms in his sleep,
Until the latter fire shall heat the deep;
Then once by man and angels to be seen,
In roaring he shall rise and on the surface die.
Below the thunders of the upper deep;
Far far beneath in the abysmal sea,
His ancient, dreamless, uninvaded sleep
The Kraken sleepeth: faintest sunlights flee
About his shadowy sides; above him swell
Huge sponges of millennial growth and height;
And far away into the sickly light,
From many a wondrous grot and secret cell
Unnumber'd and enormous polypi
Winnow with giant arms the slumbering green.
There hath he lain for ages, and will lie
Battening upon huge seaworms in his sleep,
Until the latter fire shall heat the deep;
Then once by man and angels to be seen,
In roaring he shall rise and on the surface die.
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